MAHARASHTRA: An elderly Muslim man, Haji Ashraf Munyar, was assaulted by passengers on a train near Igatpuri in Maharashtra’s Nashik district thinking that he possessed beef.
The attack occurred on Saturday while Haji Ashraf Munyar was travelling to her daughter residing in Kalyan.
The assault was reportedly fuelled by suspicions that Munyar was carrying beef, a highly sensitive issue in India where the slaughter of cows is seen scornfully and even is banned in several states. Although the police have identified the victim and some of the attackers, no arrests have been made so far.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from various quarters, including politicians and human rights activists. They have called for swift action against the perpetrators and have expressed concern over the rising cases of mob violence in the country.
Local authorities are under pressure to ensure justice is served, as the incident has added to the growing list of religiously motivated attacks in the region. Police investigations are ongoing.
