Man arrested for forcing Muslim Urdu teacher to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' in UP
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A Muslim Urdu teacher, Mohammad Alamgir, faced harassment from a man named Manoj Kumar, who forced him to recite 'Jai Shri Ram' while he was on his way to give lessons at the Panchsheel Wellington residential building in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, leading to the arrest of Manoj Kumar.
The incident occurred on October 23, when Kumar, encountering Alamgir in the elevator of the Panchsheel Wellington residential building, demanded he chant the communal slogan “Jai Shri Ram,” and, upon Alamgir’s refusal, escalated his behaviour, prompting Alamgir to exit the elevator to avoid further harassment.
As the situation unfolded, Kumar reportedly called other residents, questioning the presence of Muslims within the society. Tensions heightened when another resident allegedly joined in the verbal and physical abuse, attempting to block Alamgir from reaching his destination on the 16th floor. In light of the harassment, Alamgir chose to inform the parents of his student about the incident.
However, the situation remained volatile, with Kumar repeating his demands for the slogan, leading to a further altercation that saw Alamgir forcibly taken to the ground floor. Eventually, some residents advised him to leave, given the increasingly hostile atmosphere. He left the premises without conducting the planned lesson.
Following Alamgir’s complaint, local authorities moved swiftly, arresting Kumar. The assistant commissioner of police, Wave City, detailed that Kumar was charged under several sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, and intentional insult with the intent to provoke. The investigation is ongoing, with police efforts aimed at determining if other individuals played a role in the incident.
Kumar, a resident of the same housing society, claimed during police questioning that his behaviour stemmed from suspicions about Alamgir. He attributed his aggressive conduct to what he perceived as an inappropriate response from Alamgir, which reportedly triggered his actions.
