Sambhal: A 19-year-old Muslim youth from Bhawanipur village in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district died during treatment after he was allegedly abducted and brutally assaulted by a group of men shortly after being released on bail. Police have registered an FIR against 12 named accused in connection with the incident.
The deceased has been identified as Anas alias Ayan. He succumbed to his injuries on June 26 after spending eight days in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital.
According to Anas’s family, the incident was triggered by a dispute between children over a cricket match on June 18, following which a case was registered against him. Police had arrested Anas under Section 151 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (preventive detention to prevent a breach of peace).
Anas’s father, Azimuddin, alleged that while Anas was returning home after being granted bail, their vehicle was intercepted near a shrine in front of the Nanda Factory.
“We took Anas to the police station after he was found seriously injured. From there, he was shifted to a hospital in Moradabad for treatment, but his life could not be saved. Now, all we want is justice,” Azimuddin said.
He alleged that a group of armed men surrounded their vehicle, vandalised it and attacked them with sticks before forcibly abducting Anas at gunpoint.
According to the family, Anas briefly managed to escape and took shelter inside a nearby hotel. However, the attackers allegedly tracked him down, assaulted him again and forcibly took him away in a vehicle.
The family claimed that nearly two-and-a-half hours later, the accused abandoned Anas in a critically injured condition near the Bhawanipur bridge in the village.
Based on a complaint filed by Azimuddin, police registered an FIR against 12 named individuals — Anuj, Manoj, Ajit, Narendra, Gause, Shashank Chahal, Rishabh, Vikas, Shivraj, another Anuj, Sachin and Sanjeev — under sections 191 (2), 115 (2), 352 and 351 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Anas’s brother, Faizan, alleged that the attackers, armed with weapons, smashed the vehicle’s windows before dragging Anas out.
Anas was initially taken to a hospital in Sambhal and later shifted to a private hospital in Moradabad for specialised treatment. Despite receiving treatment in the ICU for eight days, he died from his injuries on June 26.
The grieving family has appealed to the Chief Minister for justice.
Additional Superintendent of Police (South) Kuldeep Singh said the incident originated from a dispute between children over a cricket game. He confirmed that the injured youth died during treatment and that a case had been registered against 12 named persons.
“The matter is under investigation, and further legal action will be taken based on the findings,” the officer said.
Anas’s mother, Farida, demanded strict punishment for those responsible.
“My son will never come back, but I want his killers to be punished so severely that no other mother has to endure this pain,” she said.
“Those involved in killing my son should face the strictest punishment, and their houses should be demolished,” she added.