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Unnao Police arrested one person on Saturday, 13 July, in connection with an incident where a few children studying at a madrasa in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao were allegedly forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram,’ according to ANI.
The police said that the investigation of CCTV footage showed that those who were named in the FIR were not present at the spot.
“Complaints of raising of slogans have not been verified yet,” the police said, adding that further investigation is underway.
On 11 July, when upon the children’s refusal to chant the slogan, they were allegedly beaten, with the accused tearing their clothes off and vandalising their bicycles.
The imam of Unnao’s Jama Masjid has alleged that people belonging to the Bajrang Dal group were involved in the incident. Police have filed a case in connection with the incident. Three accused have been identified on the basis of their Facebook IDs and have purportedly identified themselves as members of Bajrang Dal on the social media platform.
According to the madrasa’s maulvi, the children, aged between 12 and 13, went to a ground to play cricket after their namaz at 2 pm on Thursday. It was then that four boys allegedly beat them up and forced them to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’.
Fight Took Place While Playing Cricket, Says Police
According to Unnao Circle Officer Umesh Kumar Tyagi, the children from the madrasa usually go to the GIC Inter-College ground to play cricket on Thursdays, which are half-days for them. The ground is also frequented by others, who come there to play, he added.
“Today, when the children from the madrasa were there (at the ground), they got involved in a fight. A case has been filed. The medical examination of children who were injured has been done. Action is being taken.”Umesh Tyagi, Circle Office City
The imam of Jama Masjid has called for the arrest of the accused as soon as possible.
(This story was originally published Quint Hindi. Translated by Kabir Upmanyu.)
(With inputs from ANI.)
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