Crime

Muslim man’s arm chopped off in hate crime after attackers see 786 tattooed on him

Photo: two Circles

‘Akhlaq’s arm was chopped off using a Chainsaw’

In a horrific incident reported in Haryana state of India, a 28-year-old Muslim man was brutally tortured and his right arm chopped off with a Chainsaw by two men belonging to Saini community, a caste mostly found in country’s northern part.

The victim identified as Akhlaq, a barber by profession, had left his home in Nanauta, 2 kilometers from Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur city to find work in Panipat, in Haryana on August 23, 2020.

However, as Akhlaq reached Panipat, he sat down to rest for a few minutes in the Kishanpura area and two men who appeared in front of him began enquiring about his whereabouts.

“Two men came and asked his name. As soon as they heard his name they started beating him. After which Akhlaq was left on the road in the injured condition,” the Akhlaq’s brother Ikram told a Delhi based Muslim organisation Two Circles.

Later, when the assailants left and Akhlaq gained his senses, he was feeling thirsty and he knocked on the nearest door to him and asked for water.

“But to his surprise, the men in the house dragged him inside and started beating him with wooden sticks. He realised they were the same men who were beating him minutes earlier,” the report quoted Ikram as having said.

Inside the house, there were four men and 2 women present when he was being brutally tortured, Ikram said as Akhlaq had narrated the ordeal to his brother first.

“As they saw 786 written on Akhlaq’s hand, they told him we won’t let this be written on your hand and they cut off his right hand with a chainsaw (a machine used to cut heavy logs of wood),” Ikram said, adding that his brother was beaten in such a way that he has injuries on every part of his body.

The numbers 786, as many Muslims from the sub-continent use it to signify the name of Allah, the ever merciful, the ever compassionate, on Akhlaq’s arm was tattooed when he was  just 15 years old.

“We believe in 786. We believe in Allah,” the victim’s brother said.

Hours after, during the weeks hours, Ikram said, when Akhlaq returned to his senses after he found himself lying at a railway station.

Meanwhile, Ikram had come to know about the incident when an unknown person called him from Panipat.

“Akhlaq was taken to the railway station and was thrown on the railway track to portray as if he got injuries in a train accident,” he told the news organisation.

Later, when Akhlaq was taken to hospital in Panipat, by the time Ikram arrived at the hospital, and SI Balvaan of GRP Police station was already present, who was stating that it’s an “accident case”.

At the same time, Ikram felt that police has already decided to dismiss the case by calling it an accident; however, seeing his injuries, Ikran waited for him to become stable and asked him about it.

Upon knowing the incident, Ikram In order to ask the assailants that why was his brother tortured, he went to the place and enquired and he came to know that the assailants are from “Saini community”.

Quoting Ikram, the report said that S.I Balvaan called the accused men to the police station but let them go without arresting them despite having evidences in front on him.

However, an FIR has been lodged at Thana Chandni Bagh in Panipat in this regard.

“This is a case of kattarpanthi, they cut off his hand because 786 was written on his hand,” Ikram was quoted by the report as saying.

The report added that Akhlaq was later referred to Rohtak hospital, where from he was asked to leave and he finally left the place and is getting treatment at his native place in Nanauta.

As no official and concerned have pay heed towards the “grave issue” yet, Ikram has sought  justice for his brother and is worried because no one has been arrested till date.

Quoting SI Balvaan, the report said that case has been transferred to Chandi Bagh police station and for further investigations.

 

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