Hyderabad: A video has surfaced on social media with visuals of a Muslim man being assaulted by a group of men, reportedly belonging to Hindu right-wing groups who are heard chanting 'Jai Shri Ram’ while attacking the man where his mother and pregnant sister can also be seen shielding him from the mob attack.
The incident, which took place on May 7 in Telangana's Medak district, recently came to light and sparked outrage as allegations of a miscarriage suffered by the pregnant sister surfaced.
According to a report by The News Minute, the confrontation began as an argument between Imran Ahmed, a biryani stall owner, and Lingam, who was delivering an LPG cylinder to him. The disagreement escalated, and Imran reportedly struck Lingam with his shoes.
Lingam, who was part of a group of 'Hanuman mala' devotees dressed in saffron, rallied other members to gather at Imran's eatery. As the situation escalated, the mob surrounded Imran, his pregnant sister Ayesha Anjum, and their mother, subjecting them to physical assault while chanting religious slogans.
Videos of the attack circulated widely, causing widespread condemnation and calls for justice. The disturbing visuals depict the mob forcibly removing Imran's shirt and attempting to strip him, while his family tried to shield him from the attackers. The assault only ceased when local police intervened and restored order. However, reports indicate that Ayesha allegedly suffered a miscarriage following the incident, leading to further outrage and demands for accountability.
While the police promptly registered First Information Reports (FIRs) against both Imran and ten members of the Hindu mob, no official complaint regarding Ayesha's miscarriage has been filed. Authorities stated that they contacted the family, who did not raise the issue during subsequent interactions.
However, a local legislator from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) claimed that Ayesha gave birth prematurely on May 14, and the newborn tragically passed away three days later.
Despite the evidence presented in the videos, police action has been limited. Imran was taken into custody for a day before being released on bail, while the identified members of the mob were issued notices to appear before the police.
Authorities cited the maximum punishment for the charges faced by the mob members as the reason for not arresting them. Lingam, the individual allegedly assaulted by Imran, has yet to face legal consequences as he is currently in the 'mala' period, which is considered sacred by Hindus.