advertisement
The Ballabhgarh train lynching incident – that killed one Muslim youth – may have started over a seat. But it soon escalated with attackers allegedly using various slurs. According to Hashib, one of the victims, he and his relatives were called “Pakistanis”, “anti-nationals” and “beef-eaters”.
However, in the FIR registered by the police, based on Hashib’s account, a copy of which was accessed by The Quint, the word “beef” is conspicuously absent. A more politically correct phrase, “racial slurs”, is used instead.
Hashib and his friends then tried to get off the train at Faridabad station, but failed due to overcrowding at the station. Following this, he rang up a few friends at the Ballabhgarh station and asked for their help. Shakir was one of the friends who came to Ballabhgarh station.
According to Hashib’s FIR:
Junaid was killed in the ensuing stabbing, while Shakir and Hashib were grievously injured. The three victims were residents of Khandavali village in Ballabhgarh.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)