Video Producer: Mayank Chawla
Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
Three people who were earlier arrested in connection with the assault of a Muslim man in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur have been released on bail.
Meanwhile, three more arrests were made in the case on Friday, 13 August.
On Thursday, visuals had emerged of the man being paraded through the streets of Kanpur amid chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’, with his young daughter clinging to him and crying desperately for her father’s safety.
The three accused released on bail have been identified as Ajay Rajesh, Aman Gupta, and Rahul Kumar.
The disturbing visuals showed that the man was assaulted in the presence of his child, and hit even while in custody of the police. Before the police broke up the frenzied mob, the man was also seen being hit on his head by what appeared to be a black helmet, the force of which caused him to fall on the ground.
According to a report by NDTV, the incident had taken place 500 metres from where the right-wing group Bajrang Dal held a meeting, in which they claimed that Muslims in the area were attempting to convert a Hindu girl in their locality. The incident was reported to have taken place right after the meeting.
WHO IS THE MAN WHO WAS THRASHED IN THE VIDEO?
He is reported to be a 45-year-old Muslim who drives an e-rickshaw for a living.
WHAT DID THE POLICE SAY EARLIER?
As per a statement by DCP Raveena Tyagi earlier, the police and PAC force were deployed to control the situation.
A case was filed on the complaint of the man against some known and unknown persons. Speaking to the media on Thursday, DCP Tyagi had confirmed:
"A video of an incident that took place in Kacchi locality near Ram Gopal crossing under Barra police station surfaced. A man is being beaten up. Based on the complaint of the victim, an FIR was registered against some named and unnamed suspects. Further investigation is underway."
The sections of the Indian Penal Code reportedly invoked included 147 (rioting), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation).
BAJRANG DAL STAGES PROTEST
After the accused were apprehended on Thursday, the Bajrang Dal had collected in protest outside the police station in Kanpur.
According to NDTV, the Dal left the site after they received affirmation of a fair probe by the police, asserting that they would return if the men were not released from custody soon.
THE ORIGINAL 'DISPUTE'
The man is reported to have been a relative of a Muslim family, which is involved in a legal dispute with their Hindu neighbours. The Kanpur police also informed that, earlier in July, the two families had filed cases against each other.
While the Muslim side had originally filed a case of assault and criminal intimidation, the Hindu side had alleged 'assault with the intent to outrage the modesty of a woman'.
NDTV had quoted sources as informing that the Bajrang Dal, which subsequently got involved in the matter, had alleged “forcible conversion” by the Muslim family.
(With inputs from NDTV)
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