In Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, three Muslim children were allegedly forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram” and beaten by two men near Amrit Sagar Lake. The incident, which occurred a month ago, came to light after a video of the assault surfaced online.
As per a police complaint filed by one of the boys, the children were sitting near a swing at the lake when two men, identified as Kailash and Veer, approached them. Upon learning their Muslim identity, the men reportedly abused and assaulted them with slippers.
“In the video, it is evident that the incident involved three minor children. Near Amrit Sagar old garden, which is undergoing renovation, the kids were playing there. From their perspective, it was just a game,” said Imran A. Khokar, an advocate from Ratlam.
The attackers demanded that the children chant “Jai Shri Ram” and threatened them with a knife. “If you say Allah, we will throw you in the pond,” one of the attackers warned. “They forcibly made us chant Jai Shri Ram and made a video of us,” one of the children recalled. They were also threatened with death if they told anyone about the incident.
The children, fearing for their lives, managed to escape after one of the perpetrators tried to abduct one of them “They picked up my friend and started taking him with them,” the child said. The children fled to safety and, out of fear, did not inform their families about the ordeal immediately.
The youngest among the three children, only seven years old, was severely traumatized. “The middle child, the youngest one, was around seven years old. After this incident, he locked himself in a room, traumatized. We had to counsel him extensively to even get him to open the door,” said Khokar. “His family is utterly scared and shaken by what happened.”
The children, who had been in shock after the incident, only decided to take action when the viral video surfaced, prompting them to report the assault to the police. The eldest child lodged the FIR with the police station after the video began circulating.
The report was filed in the Manakchowk area of Ratlam under various sections, including 296, 115(2), 126(2), 351(2), 196, and 3(5) BNS. “The family is still in a sensitive state, and they are scared. We had to relocate the children for their safety,” Khokar added. “One of the kids, who’s an orphan is with his grandmother. It’s best to approach the family with caution and sensitivity right now.”
“One assailant has been arrested.” Khokar stated. The police are continuing their investigation into the incident.
