Poets flay attack on Hashim, demand security for him

LUCKNOW: A number of Hindi and Urdu poets and writers have expressed concern over the acid attack on poet Hashim Firozabadi.

Those condemning the attack include Hindi poets Kumar Vishwas, Kunwar Bechain, Sarvesh Asthana, Mukul Mahan, Shashikant Yadav, Vineet Chauhan and Dr Vishnu Saxena and Urdu poets Sanjay Mishra ‘Shauq’, Suhail Kakorvi and Hasan Qazmi.

Sanjay Mishra ‘Shauq’ said, “If people start attacking poets and writers, it means we are heading for a tough time, where goons will dictate the terms. Those people were hoodlums and had police acted against them timely, Hashim would not have had to report their criminal act. Police must ensure that these criminals are punished. They must give proper security to Hashim so that he can live without fear.”

Suhail Kakorvi said, “Of late criminals have started targeting poets , writers and social workers too. We appeal to the government to act strictly against the criminals involved in the case.”

Sarvesh Asthana said, “All Hindi poets are shocked after the dastardly act against Hashim Firozabadi. We are surprised over the rising threat to intellectuals , poets and writers. Now it’s for the government to instil a feeling of safety among all.”

Meanwhile, three people were arrested on Sunday for attacking Firozabadi with ‘acid’ and beating him, allegedly for confronting some goons sexually harassing a girl in Firozabad’s Rasoolpur area on Saturday, added a report from Agra.

Firozabad SP (City) RK Singh confirmed the arrest, saying search was on for the remaining two named in the case.

Firozabadi, a resident of Rahi Nagar, had lodged an FIR against Saif, Musaif, Saqlain, Sunny and Achhe. He was attacked when he intervened to help a man whose daughter was being harassed.

Firozabad police have sought opinion of experts from Agra about the chemical thrown at the poet. “The three arrested include main accused Sunny Khan, Saif Khan and Musaif Khan, all brothers and sons of Waqaruddin. Search is on for the remaining two named in the case registered at Rasoolpur police station of Firozabad on Friday night,” said SP city RK Singh.

“The medical reports suggest that the chemical thrown on the face and chest of the poet was of ‘corrosive’ nature,” he added.

Firozabad police have added Section 326 A of IPC (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by acid etc) in the FIR after medical reports detailed corrosive nature of the liquid thrown at the poet.