Crime
Hate Crime: Muslim family attacked, mother-daughter killed after 5 Hindu men in car run over them
Latur: In a road rage incident in Latur on September 29, a three-year-old girl and her mother lost their lives when five men in a car allegedly chased a family on a motorcycle for five kilometers before running them over after a dispute over driving, The Indian Express reported.
The motorcycle rider, 35-year-old Sadique Shaikh, and his six-year-old son survived with injuries. Shaikh reported that those in car used religious slurs, stating that “Muslims need to be taught a lesson” before hitting them. Following intervention from activists and lawyers, the Latur Police have filed a murder case against the five accused men.
Latur SP Somay Mundhe confirmed to The Indian Express, “We have charged the five men with murder. It currently appears to be a case of road rage.” The incident occurred as Shaikh, his wife Iqra (24), their son Ahad, and daughter Nadia were returning home after visiting Shaikh’s sister in Ausa, located 20 kilometers from Latur.
According to the FIR, around 8pm, a car suddenly swerved in front of their motorcycle on the outskirts of Ausa. Shaikh confronted the occupants, whom he suspected were intoxicated. After a brief argument, they continued on their way, but the car followed them and struck them near Budhada village. The crash resulted in the deaths of Iqra and Nadia, while Shaikh and Ahad were taken to a hospital in Latur. Initially, the family believed it was just an accident, but upon regaining consciousness the next day, Shaikh told his brother they had been targeted due to their religion.
Altaf Qazi, the family’s lawyer, stated, “He recounted the argument with the car’s occupants. He said that because his wife was wearing a burqa, they hurled religious slurs and insisted that Muslims needed to be taught a lesson. He moved from the scene at his wife’s insistence, but the men followed them for around five kilometers and collided with the bike.”
However, the FIR does not mention any religious slurs. The accused—Digambhar Pandole, Krishna Wagh, Basvaraj Dhotre, Manoj Mane, and Mudame—were detained by local residents shortly after the incident. A video recorded at the hospital shows one of the accused admitting they intentionally ran over the family. “We had a tiff with the man, and after he left, our driver, Digambar Pandole, followed and ran him over intentionally,” he is seen saying in the video.
The family and their lawyers claimed that police initially hesitated to file serious charges, trying to classify the incident as a typical accident. “The police were reluctant to file a case, particularly since there was a senior minister’s meeting in Udgir that day. Despite the family’s assertions that they were targeted because of their faith, the police attempted to downplay it,” Kazi stated.
It was only after persistent advocacy from Kazi and community activists that an FIR was registered on October 1, two days after the incident. “Initially, the police considered a charge of culpable homicide, despite video evidence indicating intent. After considerable persuasion, they agreed to charge the men with murder,” Kazi was quoted as saying.
