–Huneza Khan
BHOPAL—A 23-year-old Muslim man and his parents were attacked by a mob in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, because of their Muslim identity.
They accuse the police of manipulating the case and falsely shaping it into a matter of ‘Love Jihad’. The victims also perceive a threat to their life.
In conversation with India Tomorrow, Wajid Ali, 23, broke into tears while recalling the incident.
He said there were at least 25 people who attacked them. The incident took place on the evening of September 15. “My family and I were on the way to travel from Laal Gaon to Ari village, Seoni, to meet my newly-wed sister. We were on bikes. They suddenly stopped our bikes in the Hirri area of Chaurai Tehsil in Chhindwara, and a large mob intercepted us. The mob tied me with a motorcycle and dragged me to Auriya village. They kept beating and abusing me. They also misbehaved with my mother, tore her veil, and beat her. The attackers pulled my father with his beard and thrashed him too.
This scribe also spoke with another victim of the incident Sameena Ali, 42, mother of Wajid Ali.
“The attackers stole away my jewellery and all the cash. They tore my veil and clothes. I kept begging them for my dupatta. They made my video viral to show what they can do to a Muslim woman. The police hospitalized us at Chaurai Hospital. Although Wajid and I were injured, they only took my husband’s statement,” Sameena said, narrating her woes. Sameena alleged the police manipulated the FIR and turned it into a minor scuffle case.
Sameena also said they were attacked for their religious identity. “My husband is a practising Muslim. It can be seen in his appearance. I was also in a veil. It seems that we were attacked for our Muslim identity. They humiliated us”.
Wajid Ali said they harassed him and his parents because of their Muslim identity. The mob was raising anti-Muslim slogans, said Wajid. They were also raising the slogans of Jai Sri Ram (Glory be to Lord Ram). He requested not to mention the slogans as they may disrupt communal harmony.
Wajid said that it is the issue of my Muslim identity. They were tortured because of being Muslim. “I don’t want to disrupt communal harmony by quoting the slogans. I am sitting on the pile of gunpowder. I don’t want to put a spark to it. I need to save my India”, said Wajid.
What is the Matter?
A month back, on August 13, Wajid Ali took a girl from another community to Nasik. He planned to get married there. However, on the morning of August 17, he was arrested in Nasik on the complaint of the girl’s family. The police brought both back to Chhindwara.
Wajid Ali was in police custody for two days at Chand police station, but no FIR was filed. Both families compromised to maintain brotherhood in society, and the matter was settled. The girl went with her family, and Wajid Ali returned home.
Wajid Ali said, “The matter was already closed, but the girl’s maternal uncles, Mahesh Pal and Anil Pal, attacked us with the mob on September 15. The allegations of ‘Love Jihad’ are baseless”. He claims that instead of taking action against the culprits, the police are trying to frame it from the angle of ‘Love Jihad’.
Our team also connected with the girl’s cousin with whom Wajid was alleged to have eloped. “I heard that Wajid was eloping with the girl, and his parents were also with him. The girl’s maternal uncle and mob alleged the same. However, the girl was nowhere to be seen when the incident happened. Earlier, we compromised with the boy’s family to maintain communal harmony. So we didn’t have any conflict with them.”
An FIR related to the incident was registered with Chaurai Police Station. Shashi Vishwakarma, inspector of Chaurai Police Station, talked to our team, “a month ago, Wajid Ali eloped with the Pal girl, and the matter was settled as both of them belonged to the same area. The girl was sent to her uncle’s house at Auriya Village. When Wajid Ali knew that the girl was residing at her uncle’s home, on September 15, he went to meet her with his parents. There, the girl’s uncle had a conflict with Wajid. Four accused, namely Santosh Pal, Manoj Pal, Lekhram Pal, and Sushma, were arrested after the statement from the victims”.
The inspector denied any allegations of assault over the victim’s religious identity.
