Ties with Hindu girls: Hindutva men thrash Muslim man in Uttar Pradesh
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Lucknow: A Muslim youth was allegedly assaulted and humiliated by members of a Hindutva group at Assi Ghat in Varanasi after they found him with Hindu girls near the banks of the Ganga. The incident came to light after a video of the confrontation went viral on social media on Friday, triggering fresh concern over vigilante attacks targeting interfaith relations in Uttar Pradesh.
According to reports, the youth, a resident of Bareilly, was surrounded by the group and physically attacked before being forced to apologise with folded hands. The viral video allegedly shows the men threatening and intimidating him while making him publicly declare that he would neither roam with nor speak to Hindu girls in the future. The youth was reportedly let off only after the public humiliation.
Police reached the spot after the incident and have reportedly begun examining the video footage to identify those involved in the assault. No detailed information regarding arrests or legal action has been released so far.
The incident has drawn attention because similar attacks have been reported in different parts of Uttar Pradesh in recent months. Earlier this year, members of Hindutva groups allegedly stormed a birthday celebration at a restaurant in Bareilly organised by a Hindu woman and assaulted Muslim youths who had attended the gathering. That case later led to arrests.
The latest incident in Varanasi has once again raised concerns about self-styled vigilante groups targeting Muslims in public spaces and policing personal interactions in the name of religion.
