On September 29, Mohammad Iqbal, an 18-year-old resident of Ramganj in Jaipur, lost his life after he was beaten by an angry mob of around 40–50 people. The incident has sparked communal tensions in the area.
According to Iqbal’s family, the young man and his younger brother, AlFaiz, were returning from their grandmother’s house when a mob stopped them, violently assaulted Iqbal, and eventually lynched him after inquiring about his name. The family alleges that the attack was motivated by religious factors.
“Iqbal was hit on his head by iron rods, which led to his death,” they said.
On the other hand, authorities have a different perspective on the event. Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph provided a statement regarding the incident, explaining that it was a result of a misunderstanding. He stated, “Two motorcycles collided in Subhash Chowk, after which a group of men present there thrashed two bystanders, mistaking them for being responsible for the accident.”
This misunderstanding ultimately led to the death of Mohammad Iqbal, according to the police.
An FIR has been registered, and police have detained several individuals believed to be involved in the incident. Commissioner Joseph said, “The situation is normal now, and complete peace will be restored soon.”
The post-mortem examination of the deceased was conducted at Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Hospital.
The incident has led to communal tensions erupting in Ramganj and nearby areas. Following Iqbal’s death, several shops in Muslim-dominated areas remained closed, and both family members of the deceased and local residents gathered to demand justice against the accused parties.
“The government should arrest all accused and give them death sentences,” said Abdul Maziz, father of Iqbal.
Meanwhile, a compensation of Rs 50 lakh has been granted to the family of Mohammad Iqbal. His brother, Adnan, has been offered employment and a dairy booth.
