A viral video from Hyderabad has sparked outrage after a young Muslim boy was allegedly called “Pakistani” and “illegal” during a heated dispute at an apartment complex in the city. The incident, linked to a disagreement over a pet cat and temporary shelter, has now led to police complaints and demands for action.
The controversy emerged from Janapriya Lakefront Apartments under the Jawahar Nagar police station limits, where Mrs. Shaik Naseema, a tenant for the past year, alleged she has been facing harassment from some residents and the flat owner.
According to Naseema, her two sons work in Delhi, and she lives in the apartment with her husband. Around ten days ago, a family friend, Prachi Lokhandwala, reportedly moved in temporarily after being forced to vacate her rented accommodation following a dispute with her landlord.
Prachi was accompanied by her Persian cat, which became the centre of the dispute.
Pet Cat Dispute Turns Communal
Family members said Naseema agreed to shelter Prachi despite being allergic to cat fur. The cat was reportedly kept in the balcony to avoid discomfort.
However, some residents objected to the presence of the pet and complained to the apartment society. Naseema assured them that the balcony would be cleaned and that Prachi was in the process of finding another place to stay.
But according to the family, the issue quickly escalated beyond the pet.
They alleged that the society’s vice-president and a group of residents gathered outside the flat, verbally abused them and made communal remarks, calling them “Pakistanis,” “Pakistani agents,” and “illegals.”
Boy in Viral Video Defends His Identity
The viral clip shows Nadeem Ahmed, a young relative and family friend, strongly responding to the allegations.
“My grandfather is a Subedar in the Indian Army. I am a proud Indian,” Nadeem can be heard saying in the video.
The family said Nadeem had come to help Naseema when she was unwell and to accompany her for medical treatment. They claimed that even his visit was questioned by residents.
The video quickly spread online, drawing attention and criticism over the communal profiling of the family.
MBT Leader Meets Family, Seeks Police Action
Following the video, Majlis Bachao Tehreek spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan visited the family on June 19 after social media users requested his intervention.
Khan said he spent nearly five hours tracing the family before meeting Naseema and hearing their account.
After the meeting, he condemned the incident and said, “No Indian citizen should be forced to prove his patriotism because of his religion. Calling an Indian Muslim a ‘Pakistani’ is unacceptable and an insult to the Constitution of India.”
He added, “Hyderabad’s identity is its Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, mutual respect and communal harmony. We must not allow hate and prejudice to divide society.”
FIR Filed, Police Asked to Probe
Khan said he spoke to officials at Jawahar Nagar police station and urged them to take appropriate action against those accused of threatening and abusing the family.
According to reports, an FIR has been filed against some apartment society members, including those seen in the viral video.
The family has also claimed that the harassment was not just about the cat but part of a wider pattern of communal targeting.
Supreme Court Rules Protect Pet Owners
The incident has also reopened discussions around pet rights in housing societies. The Supreme Court has previously made it clear that housing societies cannot impose blanket bans on pets, recognising their rights alongside residents.
For Naseema, the issue began as an act of kindness — giving temporary shelter to a friend and her cat — but it has now become a larger debate about communal prejudice, constitutional rights, and coexistence in urban India.
