A 48-year-old Muslim man, Shareef, died after being assaulted on his way to a mosque on Saturday in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao. The altercation began when a group allegedly threw colours on him during Holi, despite his protests.
Shareef, a resident of Qasim Nagar near Rabbanna Mosque in the city’s Sadar area, had recently returned home after working as a driver in Saudi Arabia. On March 14, he left for work around 11 a.m. As he passed through Mohalla Kashif Ali Sarai Chungi Power House, a group celebrating Holi splashed colours on him.
When Shareef objected, they repeated the act, leading to a verbal altercation that quickly turned violent. He was brutally beaten before a few bystanders intervened and helped him sit on a platform, offering him water. However, minutes later, he collapsed and died. The attackers allegedly fled the scene.
As news of his death spread, outraged residents gathered near the site and later at his home, demanding immediate arrests.
His daughter, Bushra, alleged that her father was not only beaten but also robbed of ₹5,000. Speaking to local reporter, she said, he was dragged and forcibly smeared with colours before his death.
His nephew, Shamim, while speaking to reporters, said that Shareef was driving his auto-rickshaw when people began throwing colours on it. When he stepped out to protest, they attacked him. Shamim urged him to leave, but as he drove away, a group of men chased him.
“They dragged him out of the auto at the next intersection and started slapping him. Even minors were throwing colours at his vehicle,” Shamim said. He identified some of the attackers as Kishan, his brother, and Rajpal, son of Rampal.
Unnao Police issued a statement on their official Twitter handle, claiming Shareef died after falling while trying to escape. His body has been sent for a postmortem, and an investigation is underway.
As tensions escalated, additional police forces were deployed to maintain order. CO City Sonam Singh assured that a case would be registered and that efforts were being made to identify and arrest those involved.
Family members and local residents are demanding strict action against the accused, calling for justice for Shareef.
Azhar
March 16, 2025 at 7:21 am
No justice has been left in this country, law and orders are not the same for all, injustice at its peak.