Video Editor: Vivek Gupta
Video Producer: Shohini Bose
In Bihar's Champaran, news of a Muslim man being forced to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' has emerged. Mohammad Israil from Mehsi has alleged that not only did some people compel him to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’, but also tried to slit his throat.
Taking cognisance of the matter, the police has filed an FIR against six people. Israil is currently hospitalised and is being treated for his injuries.
Narrating the incident, he said that due to heavy rainfall in his village, there was no electricity, which is why he had gone to his friend’s house to charge his mobile phone.
“I had gone to a friend to get my phone charged. Some people surrounded me and told me to say ‘Jai Shri Ram’. When I protested, they attacked me with a knife on my head and neck. They were beating here and there like a football,” Israil told The Quint.
The Quint spoke to the station in-charge of Meshi, Avnish Kumar, who said, "This incident took place on 2 June. When we received the complaint, the FIR was filed. Investigation is on."
‘Left Israil Because They Thought He’s Dead’
Israel's brother, Tahir, also confirmed to The Quint that he got a severe injury on his head, which is why he is not able to talk as much.
Tahir said, “When the attackers thought that Israel had died, they ran away. Israil was then lodged in a government hospital in Mehsi. Because he was found in critical condition, he was referred to Muzaffarpur.”
He added, “Because of coronavirus, he was not being treated properly, so we came back to Motihari. He is now being treated in a private hospital. As of now, Israil is doing better than before.”
The six people that Israel has identified are Ram Gopal, Rahul Banarwal, Lakhan, Prince, Abhishek and Nitesh Singh. They have been said to belong to a nearby village called Bathna. Although, no one has been arrested in the case so far.
‘Being Framed’: Accused
One of the accused, Veer Prince, who is named in the FIR, told The Quint, "We are being wrongly accused. We were somewhere else when the incident took place. The issue is deliberately being given a communal spin.”
“...The boy who has been injured did not have a good impression in the locality. We had no enmity with Israil,” he added.
He added, "He used to speed on his motorcycle in this locality, we don't know who beat him up."
When The Quint asked the Prince if the accused belong to any group, he said they are associated with Bajrang Dal.
Golu Khilani, who claims to be the president of Bajrang Dal of Chakiya subdivision, Mehsi, said that because the accused are associated with Bajrang Dal, they are being framed.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)