Assaulted Priest by Bajrang Dal creates communal dispute

Communal tension flared up in Hapur and Meerut districts after a mob lynched a youth belonging to minority community in Hapur while in Meerut, activists of Bajrang Dal reportedly assaulted a church priest accusing of involving in changed the religion of some locals. In the Meerut case, the Centre has also summoned a detailed report from the state government. Reports from Hapur confirmed that a mob belonging to a Hindu activist group, ran towards a farm following rumours of some people smuggling cows from farm lands for the purpose of slaughter.

The mob went towards the village in vicinity, Madapur, and found Qasim and Sameyddin working in the farm. Without verifying the facts, they attacked both the youths with sticks and rods in which both were critically injured. As the news of the lynching spread, officials immediately reached the spot. Circle Officer Pawan Kumar and police station in charge Ashwini Kumar took the injured to a local private hospital where Qasim was declared ‘brought dead’ by doctors while the condition of other has been also stated to be ‘critical’. After news of Qasim’s death spread, residents of Bajhaida Khurd and Madapur confronted each other, leading to communal tension in the area.

Police and personnel of the PAC were immediately deployed in the area to avert any clash. The residents of Bajhaida Khurd alleged that Qasim was trying to smuggle the local cows and when they protested, he started attacking the villagers.  Sameyddin’s family members alleged that he was cutting grass for his cattle when he was picked up and beaten by local villagers leading to death. Meanwhile the police denied that it was a case of cow smuggling or slaughter and also arrested two people from Pilakhua area of the district. Superintendent of Police(SP) Sankalp Sharma on Tuesday rejected the allegation that rumours of cow slaughter was the basis of the attack and lynching. “The victim’s family has given us a written complaint saying that the beating and the fight was triggered after a motorbike hit some people,’’ says SP adding that one person was killed in the attack. SP said 2 people have been arrested in connection with the incident after an initial probe. The arrested persons are Rajesh and Yudhister besides a FIR has been registered against 30 unknown people, he said. Meanwhile in Meerut, some Bajrang Dal activists nabbed a priest of St Thomas Church and an employee and brutally assaulted them on Tuesday morning. They alleged that the priest had lured some local residents of Khatuli area and gave them money to change their religion. They later handed over the priest to the local police and lodged a case against them. Talking serious note of the allegations of the Bajrang Dal, the Central Government sought a detailed report in the matter from the State government. DGP OP Singh, later asked SSP Meerut to immediately dispatch a factual report in the matter. Heavy police force has been also deployed in the area to avert any further clash.