| 28 September 2023
| Christie Anto
New Delhi, India – In a chilling incident that highlights the alarming rise in mob violence against minority communities in India, a 22-year-old Muslim man named Mohammad Ishaq was brutally beaten to death by a mob in New Delhi's Sundar Nagri area. The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday at around 5 am when a mob accused Ishaq of stealing "prasad," a ritualistic offering, during a prayer event organized by the area's Hindu community as part of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
Ishaq's father, Mohammad Wajid, recounted the harrowing details of his son's death to a TV journalist, his voice breaking as he struggled to hold back tears. "I have lost everything," Abdul Wajid, Ishaq's father, told Al Jazeera. The grieving family resides in a dimly lit house in a narrow lane of India's capital.
The heart-wrenching incident unfolded when a group of individuals tied Ishaq to an iron pole using a leather belt and subjected him to a merciless beating. They accused him of blasphemy and took offense at a Muslim touching their sacred prasad. Abdul Wajid, a humble vegetable vendor, explained that he had often accepted prasad from his Hindu customers without hesitation, viewing it as a gift from both Bhagwan and Allah.
Ishaq's sister, Uzma, revealed the horrifying details of her brother's ordeal. She said Ishaq was lynched "for taking a banana," and the mob left him tied to the pole in critical condition after the brutal assault. "His nails were broken, some taken out, and his fingers had cuts. He was brutally beaten because he was a Muslim," she said. A compassionate neighbor found Ishaq lying on the road and brought him home, but he succumbed to his injuries shortly after. The family did not take him to the hospital, and the police were informed only after his passing.
The incident garnered widespread attention as a video of the assault went viral on social media, sparking outrage among the public. Subsequently, the police registered a case of murder and arrested six individuals. Police official Joy N Tirkey confirmed that initial investigations revealed Ishaq was stopped on suspicion of theft before being tied and brutally beaten.
Neighbors described Ishaq as a mentally challenged and kind-hearted individual who never caused harm to anyone. Autorickshaw driver Mohammad Saleem, who lived in the same lane, said Ishaq would assist everyone with their chores and was known for his willingness to help. "He was a good boy. He never said no," Saleem recalled.
Abdul Wajid, grieving the loss of his only son, expressed his desire for justice. "We are somewhat satisfied with the police action, but we want the men who killed my son to face the same fate," he asserted.
Tragically, mob assaults and lynchings, particularly targeting Muslims, have been on the rise in India since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, came to power in 2014. The government denies these allegations, but the alarming trend continues. Many victims have been targeted based on suspicions of cow slaughter, which is prohibited in most Indian states due to religious beliefs.
Sharjeel Usmani, a New Delhi-based Muslim student activist, emphasized that Ishaq's lynching highlights a disturbing shift in how a segment of Hindu society practices their religion. "Lynching a Muslim has become akin to a ritual, and that's something Hindu leaders must think about," he remarked.
Despite the outrage and calls for justice, the grief-stricken family of Mohammad Ishaq has received no visits from politicians, underscoring the continued marginalization of minority communities in India. As the nation grapples with these troubling incidents, the call for justice and an end to communal violence grows louder.
Comments