A Muslim youth was badly thrashed by a group of men allegedly belonging to right-wing Hindu outfits and the BJP during a talk show organized by a news channel in Muzaffarnagar as he reportedly said during the show that some civic work was not being done.
This infuriated the members and supporters of the ruling party.
The incident took place at Nehru Vatika of Civil Lines area of Muzaffarnagar on Wednesday where a news channel had organised a talk show. Adnan, the victim, who hails from Sarvat area, had come to the local park. A curious Adnan reached the place where the talk show was going on and joined the crowd. While giving a byte to the reporter, Adnan reportedly complained that the civic work was not being carried out in the area. This did not go down well with the BJP members and supporters present there and they pounced on him, beating him black and blue.
He, however, was saved with the intervention of Arshad Zama, an advocate and some others who were also present there.
In his statement recorded by the media, Adnan said that those who attacked him belong to the BJP and Shiv Sena. “They called me a terrorist because I questioned BJP,” said Adnan, adding that he told them that was only participating in the talk show.
In reply to a question, he said that he was targeted because he belonged to the Muslim community.
Arshad Zama, who saved Adnan, said the boy could have died had he not intervened as the men were beating him with belts and he was bleeding profusely. “He had made some comment on the Prime Minister which enraged a group of people present there,” he said.
When contacted, the BJP district President of Muzaffarnagar Sudheer Saini said that he is not aware of the incident. “I was also present in the programme and when I left from there nothing like this had happened,” he said.
Ajit Rathi, an RLD leader from Muzaffarnagar, said that he met Adnan but he is very hopeless and terrified hence he didn’t approach the police. “We have asked the SSP to take cognisance of the case,” said Rathi.
Adnan left from there shortly after the incident and did not approach the police in this regard. When this reporter tried to contact him his phone was not reachable.