An Ahmadi book stall owner named Waqar Saleem was brutally beaten by a mob of women associated with Hindutva outfits in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
The incident unfolded when Saleem requested a woman to provide her contact information while she inquired about the delivery of certain books.
According to eyewitnesses, the situation escalated when the woman asked Saleem to arrange for the delivery of books she had purchased at the fair.
A Muslim man named Waqar Saleem, who set up a book stall at Ujjain Book fair in Madhya Pradesh, was beaten up by a mob of women from Hindutva outfits. The man asked for the number when these women were asking about certain books to be delivered. This was made as an excuse. pic.twitter.com/yD3apSqKwV
— Waquar Hasan (@WaqarHasan1231) September 4, 2023
While talking to media Saleem said that the books were already sold out, and he requested her to jot down her address in the register so he could inform her when the books became available.
Saleem was accused of molestation by the woman, and an FIR was filed against him by the Madhya Pradesh Police.
The woman who made the molestation accusation is reportedly associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a prominent Hindutva organization.
“I was asked for my ID card by the group, I gave him the ID, as I hadn’t done anything wrong. I didn’t harass anyone,” said Saleem.
He said that Ahmadis never think of troubling anyone and they believe in the philosophy of “love for all and hatred for none”.
“Even the union minister Smriti Irani praised the Ahmadi community… if there’s an allegation against me, I’m ready to go to the police station and I will cooperate with the authorities,” he said.
An FIR has been registered against Saleem related to assaulting a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty (Section 354) and engaging in criminal intimidation (Section 506) under the Indian Penal Code.
