Three Muslim labourers were allegedly abducted, held hostage, and brutally assaulted by a group of men in Rajasthan’s Beawar district after they asked for payment for repair work at a mine, according to a police complaint.
Police have registered an FIR and started an investigation into the incident. According to advocate Rahmat Kathat, who is representing the victims, police have arrested two to three accused, while the main accused is still absconding.
According to the FIR, Sajid Khan, 40, along with his brother Junaid and nephew Sahil, had gone to a mine in Jhutha village on June 28 to repair a machine. After finishing the work around 1 a.m., they asked for their wages but were allegedly told to wait until morning.
As the three men were leaving, Sajid alleged that mine owner Mukesh Mali arrived with four to five others in an SUV. “They threatened us, abused us, beat us, and forced us into their vehicle,” the complaint states. The victims were allegedly taken to an office, tied with ropes, and held there overnight.
The FIR alleges that the attackers targeted the men because of their religion. “They said, ‘We are Hindus, we will kill you Muslims,’ and forced us to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’,” Sajid said in his complaint. “Out of fear, we also said ‘Jai Shri Ram’, but they still tied us up, beat us with iron pipes and shovel handles, and threatened us with a gun.”
The victims claimed they were assaulted throughout the night. Junaid allegedly suffered serious head injuries after his hair was pulled out, while all three men sustained multiple injuries from repeated beatings with pipes and sticks. They also alleged that their mobile phones were snatched and damaged, causing losses of around Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000.
Police registered the case under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and assigned the investigation to Kailash Chand.
However, members of the local Muslim community have alleged that the FIR does not adequately reflect the communal nature of the attack. In a complaint to the Superintendent of Police, they demanded the addition of more serious BNS provisions and the Arms Act.
“This type of crime not only shames humanity but is also a serious concern for social harmony and law and order,” the complaint states.
The community has also called for the immediate arrest of all accused, a fair investigation, and a fresh medical examination of Junaid and Sahil, who are undergoing treatment at Amrit Kaur Hospital in Beawar. They alleged that the initial medical examination failed to properly document all injuries, including serious injuries to the victims’ private parts, and demanded action against any police officials found negligent in handling the case.
