An elderly Muslim man, identified as Shahid, was allegedly assaulted and forced to chant religious slogans after offering namaz on a vacant land in front of the Atriya Temple in Jagatpura, Uttarakhand, police said. The incident occurred during the ongoing month of Ramadan, and a video of the attack has been circulating on social media.
In the video, the accused are seen beating Shahid with sticks while hurling abuses at him. According to police, the land where Shahid prayed is located at a considerable distance from the temple. He had been working near the temple area for several days before the incident.
Community Response and Legal Action
Following the attack, members of the local Muslim community accompanied Shahid to the police station and filed a complaint. They alleged that one of the accused is a murder convict currently out on parole.
Temple manager Arvind Sharma stated that religious activities associated with other faiths would not be tolerated on temple land, even if a legal case is filed.
The police visited the site and appealed to both communities to maintain peace. Shahid was sent for a medical examination, and authorities said legal action would follow based on the complaint.
Political and Social Reactions
Municipal Councillor Parvez Qureshi condemned the assault, calling it “extremely serious” and demanding an impartial investigation. He stressed that the administration should have been informed if there were objections and urged strict action to prevent future incidents.
Congress leader Sofia Naz said the attack is detrimental to social harmony and violates the spirit of the Constitution. She called on the state administration to act immediately to provide justice to Shahid and ensure law and order is maintained.
