Bajrang Dal activists beat up Muslim youth for posing as Jat in Jodhpur

A 23-year-old Muslim youth was taken in preventive custody Friday a day after he was thrashed up by some Bajrang Dal activists allegedly for impersonating as a Hindu Jat to meet a girl at a village in Jodhpur.

The incident came to light after two video clips of the thrashing went viral. According to the police, the incident took place Thursday afternoon.

“Allah Ki Kasam, Mai Jat Hu,” the youth, who has been identified as Hashim, a resident of Pachpadra in Barmer, is seen saying in one of the videos as he is being punched and kicked by a group of men who constantly hurl profanities at him.

In another video, Hashim is seen being questioned by his attackers who ask him the purpose behind coming to the village. “I came here because a girl had called me…I love her and want to marry her,” Hashim is seen saying before he is assaulted by the men shooting the video.

Hashim is seen telling the men that he posed as a Jat for the girl.

“We had received information that an unknown person had entered the village and was running away when confronted by the residents. After a scuffle, the villagers handed over the man to the police,” said sub inspector Jetu Singh from the Mathaniya police station. Maneesh Dev, station house officer, Mathaniya, said, “We have arrested Hashim under section 151 CrPC (preventive custody) and further investigation is on. However, no one from the village has agreed to lodge a case against him.”

The people who shot the video and allegedly assaulted Hashim termed it a case of “love jihad”.

“Hashim had come to the village on Thursday afternoon and was seen with a Hindu girl. When we confronted him, he ran away and locked himself inside a deserted house. Bajrang Dal members broke open the door,” Mukesh Ramawat, one of the people who shot the videos, told HT.

Ramawat, who claimed to be a ‘gau sevak’, said, “The Bajrang Dal members and other villagers beat Hashim up. We later handed him over to the police. We believe this is a case of love jihad and if action is not taken against him, we will stage protests.”

Ramawat said that he too was a member of Bajrang Dal and added that a similar case had happened in the village a few months ago. However, other villagers seem to be wary of the claim. “People are saying that it is a case of love jihad but I am not sure. A couple of months ago a similar case had surfaced but till this date it is not confirmed. What’s the use of ruining the lives on the name of love jihad for publicity?” Khetaram, a villager, said.