Abdul Samad who is 72-year-old was attacked by two people and forced to chant Jai Shri Ram when he was on his way to Mosque to offer prayer. Police have filed a case and arrested Pravesh Gujjar, believed to be the main accused, and are on the search for others.
a 72-year-old man assaulted for not chanting Jai Shri Ram.
- A 72-year-old man Abdul Samad was beaten up for not chanting slogans.
- His beard was cut off by one person, forced to chant Jai Shri Ram.
An elderly 72-year-old man Abdul Samad Saifi was allegedly attacked and beaten up by a group of people for not chanting slogans ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ in Loni in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad district on the 5th of June. The old man was forced to chant slogans and they made him shout loudly.
Abdul Samad was on the way to Mosque to offer prayer when he was attacked. he was allegedly abducted from an auto-rikshaw and dragged to a hut nearby forest area, where they shouted ‘Jai Shri ram’ and ‘Vande Mataram and forced him to shout as well. They slapped him and beat him with the wooden sticks.
According to the police, an FIR had been already filed and one main accused has been arrested. They are hunting for others. They said Abdul Samad was attacked by six men as they were unhappy with the amulets he had sold them.
One of the attackers wearing a white full-sleeve T-shirt and blue sweatpants also threatened Abdul Samad with a knife with which he forcibly hacked away his beard.
The video of this incident was circulated on social media in which one man was threatening him with the knife and two men wearing a black t-shirt, red trousers, and light blue t-shirt, grey trousers were brutally attacking Abdul Samad.
Samad described his experience on Facebook live saying, I was traveling in an auto-rickshaw when I was abducted by two men, they sat beside me and then dragged me to a hut in a nearby jungle area and began hitting me. I was chanting a prayer and they forced me to chant slogans “Jai Shri ram’ and ‘Vande Mataram and they brought a knife with which they cut off my beard.
After the initial investigation police officials said, the attack was not communal and the complaint registered does not mention that he was forced to chant slogans.
Police have accused Kalu Gujjar, Adil, and Pravesh Gujjar. According to the investigation, the incident was related to the sale of Tabeez (amulet) which was said to be magical by Abdul Samad. The accused were unhappy with amulets as they didn’t work.
Police have registered a case and arrested Pravesh Gujjar who was believed to be main accused. They are on hunt for others.
