Man in Viral Video Thrashing Kashmiri Vendors in Lucknow Arrested
While one of them was beaten with sticks before he managed to escape, the other was asked to produce his id card.
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Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj
Video Producer: Furqan Faridi
A man was arrested in Lucknow on Thursday, 7 March after a video of him thrashing Kashmiri street vendors in Lucknow went viral on Wednesday, ANI reported.
Condemning the attack, Union Minister Arun Jaitley tweeted that India’s fight was against the separatists and terrorists, and not “innocent” Kashmiris.
Two Kashmiri dry fruit sellers were assaulted in broad daylight in Lucknow by several saffron-clad men on Wednesday, 6 March.
The videos showing the two Kashmiris being abused, slapped and beaten have gone viral. In the video clips, when a passerby asks the assaulters why they were thrashing the two dry-fruit sellers, they say, “Because they are Kashmiris. They are the ones pelting stones in Kashmir.”
The man, identified as Bajrang Sonkar, has 12 criminal cases, including a murder case against him.
While one of the Kashmiri men is seen crying as he is being beaten with sticks, the other is seen being asked to produce his identity card after some locals came to the rescue and stopped the attackers from further thrashing.
Speaking to Uttar Pradesh Police, one of the victims was seen explaining that he has never faced an attack in over 20 years, since when he has been visiting the state for business.
Who is the Man Arrested by Police?
Bajrang Sonkar, who was one of the people who thrashed the vendors has 12 criminal cases pending against him, including a murder case. A right-wing activist, Sonkar often posts pro-Hindutva posts on his social media profile.
Who Are the Other Accused?
One of the assaulters, Himanshu Awasthi, self-proclaimed “former BJP politician” and member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, posted videos and photos on his Facebook profile boasting about thrashing Kashmiris on the Daligunj Bridge in Lucknow.
Another accused, Aniruddh Shyam, a member of Vishwa Hindu Dal, went live on Facebook with a video of them thrashing the Kashmiri men. The video has now been deleted from his profile.
Lucknow Police later said in a tweet that a case has been registered against the accused and necessary action is being taken.
Kashmiris across the country were threatened and attacked in the aftermath of Pulwama attack which killed over 40 CRPF jawans. The Kashmiri suicide bomber, Adil Ahmad Dar, was affiliated to Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed.
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