A 45-year-old meat trader was brutally assaulted by a mob in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, on Saturday evening over suspicions that he was carrying the meat of a prohibited animal. Police have arrested one person in connection with the violent incident that caused panic in the area.
The Assault on a Veteran Trader
The victim, identified as Sharif Qureshi (45), was transporting a consignment of meat on his motorcycle when he was intercepted by a group of individuals. In his police complaint, Qureshi stated that he has been in the business of selling buffalo meat for nearly 25 years and was carrying all valid documents for the goods at the time of the attack.
Despite this, the group, allegedly members of a right-wing outfit, accused him of carrying banned animal meat. They proceeded to attack him with bricks and other objects, leading to a severe thrashing and a scuffle on the road.
Police Intervention and FIR
As the violence escalated and a crowd gathered, panic spread through the locality. Upon receiving information, police teams from the Harduaganj police station rushed to the spot. The officers rescued the injured trader and successfully dispersed the crowd.
Qureshi was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where his condition was reported to be stable. Based on his complaint, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the Harduaganj police station.
The FIR names seven individuals and 10-12 unidentified persons. They have been charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
- BNS 191 (Rioting)
- BNS 115 (Voluntarily causing hurt)
- BNS 126 (Wrongful restraint)
- BNS 352 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace)
- BNS 351 (Criminal intimidation)
- BNS 324
Arrest and Ongoing Investigation
Providing an update on the case, Harduaganj Station House Officer (SHO) Kuldeep Singh confirmed that one accused, Anuj Pandit (25), has been arrested. Another individual has also been taken into custody for questioning.
"The condition of the complainant is stable. Further investigation is underway," stated SHO Kuldeep Singh. The police are actively working to identify and apprehend the other accused named in the FIR.
The incident has highlighted tensions in the region and raised concerns over mob violence and vigilantism targeting individuals based on suspicion.
