PUNE: A 24-year-old journalist from Jammu and Kashmir, who is working with an English daily newspaper, was allegedly assaulted by some youths on Tilak Road on Thursday night, after they learnt that he was Kashmir. 

The Pune city police registered a suo motu case of road rage after the youth took back his complaint. 

Jibraan Nazir Dar, currently residing in Kondhwa, works as sub-editor. He has sustained fracture on his left wrist and multiple bruises on his body. Dar was going home from his office on FC Road, when the incident took place.

Based on a complaint from the Head Constable Vijay Mane, an FIR has been registered with Swargate police station against Azharuddin Abdul Shaikh (32) of Katraj and Dattatray Gajanan Lawte (35), a wrestling coach from Katraj. 

According to police, the incident took place around 10.30 pm at the traffic signal near Girija Hotel on Tilak Road. “Shaikh and his friend Prashant Manke were riding a two-wheeler and going home through Girija Hotel chowk. Dar while riding passed closely from Shaikh's two-wheeler. Shaikh started honking and shouted at him saying 'Hey HP (Dar's vehicle has Himachal Pradesh registration number) careful'. He hit Dar's bike and abused him. He pinned him down and thrashed him. Shaikh also called his friend Lawte who also assaulted Dar”, the FIR states. 

On the other hand, Dar said, “I was standing at the signal when two persons on a two-wheeler started shouting and honking to move ahead. They were saying 'Aye Himachal, aagey badh'. I got irritated and told them I am not from Himachal, I am from Kashmir. They got furious and intercepted me after the signal. Some other persons also joined them to beat me. They were shouting 'Tujhe Kashmir bhej denge'. I told them that I am journalist. But that did not deter them and they shouted to go back to Kashmir and do journalism there.” 

Dar managed to note down the registeration number of one the vehicles and gave information to police. He had done his medical examination done at Sassoon hospital. Meanwhile, police traced the attackers and brought them to the police station. Their family members had also come and they apologised and assured to fix his bike. Dar gave in writing to withdraw his complaint but the police registered a case on Friday evening. 

They have been charged for offences under sections 279 (rash driving), 323 (assault), 504 (insult), 341 (wrongful restraint), 427 (damage to property) of the Indian Penal Code. 

After the incident, Jibraan tweeted, “I find no reason to believe that the attack on m last night, because I come from Kashmir, was an organised one. Thus, I withdrew my complaint against the accused. But, apparently, mob affliction is making inroads to Pune as well. @CPPuneCity please take notice”

After the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were martyred, there has been some incidents of attacks on Kashmiris in different parts of the country. 

Earlier on February 18, Jibraan had tweeted, “I've been receiving several calls from friends/kin, asking about my well being Thank you all for your concerns, but know that I am in #Pune and all Kashmiris, I know here, are safe and sound. People here are among the best I have ever known #PuneRejectsHate #KashmirThanksPune”

In another tweet same day, he mentioned, “When Indian cities thrash Kashmiri people in the name of avenging Pakistan's act, no need of plebiscite thereafter -- Kashmiris are already being taken as Pakistani”