In Shivaji Nagar’s Indian Oil Colony, a 12-year-old Muslim girl, Mariam Fatima, was allegedly assaulted by a group of Hindu men. Her family was also targeted in the attack, with the assailants allegedly using Islamophobic slurs.
According to Mariam Fatima, she was playing in the compound of her residence when the incident took place. A woman, accompanied by her son, approached Mariam and requested to use the space for play. Mariam agreed but soon became the victim of verbal abuse and physical assault.
“I was playing in the compound when a woman and her son came and told me that her son wanted to play there. I gave them the space and asked them if it was free after half an hour or so, that’s when she started to abuse me,” Mariam said.
The woman began assaulting Mariam, even resorting to derogatory comments about the young girl’s appearance. After some time, the woman returned with a group of men and targeted Mariam’s family, subjecting them to further violence.
“She called me fat and started to beat me. After some time, she, along with a few men, came to my home and beat me and my family,” Mariam said.
Mariam said that the woman’s husband inappropriately touched her and issued death threats. She said that the also spew Islamophobic slurs.
“Her husband touched me inappropriately and threatened me with my life,” Mariam stated.
“You Muslims are bad; you should be fed pig meat,” the attackers reportedly shouted, leaving Mariam and her family traumatized.
Meanwhile, an FIR has been filed under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 323 (Voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 506 (Criminal intimidation), and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
“A case has been registered under Section 12 POCSO and while filing the FIR,” the police said in the FIR.
