The incident took place on Sunday in the Banganga district of Indore.
Bhopal:
A 25-year-old man selling bracelets was beaten mercilessly in public by a group of men, who also reportedly took away Rs 10,000 he was carrying in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore on Sunday. A police case was reportedly registered late at night after hundreds of people gathered outside the police station to demand action against the accused.
Home Secretary Narottam Mishra cited a police investigation and said the victim was attacked after people realized he was using a false name to run his business.
In the video of the incident circulating on social media, the victim, identified as Tasleem, is beaten up by a group of men on a busy street in Indore’s Banganga district. The unidentified men are heard at him with religious insults as people look on around him – none of them intervene to help the victim.
“Take what you want. He can’t be seen here anymore”, hears a man say as he removes bracelets from the bag. The man also asks the audience to come forward and beat the victim, who is pulled up from his t-shirt by a man from behind.
Later, three to four men come forward and beat him mercilessly.
“The accused first asked for my name and started beating me when I revealed it. They also robbed Rs 10,000 I had on me and bracelets and other equipment I destroyed,” the victim said in his complaint to police.
A case of rioting, assault, robbery, intimidation and attempts to disrupt community harmony has been filed against unidentified men.
Asked about the incident, Home Secretary Narottam Mishra said: “The victim was found to be selling bracelets with a Hindu name. He had two Aadhaar cards under different ones. They have been recovered”.
Police have urged people not to respond to social media posts about the incident.
“We have registered a case according to the complainant and are investigating, but we would like to urge people not to respond to social media posts of a common nature. We also monitor such posts on social media. Suspects are identified through the video and strict action will be taken against them,” said Ashutosh Bagri, a senior police officer at Indore East Police Station.
