Jaipur: An elderly Muslim man, identified as an Imam, was brutally assaulted by a group of individuals on a train in Rajasthan while he was reciting the Quran. This incident occurred in the BJP-ruled state as the Imam was traveling from Gangapur city in Rajasthan to Ankleshwar in Gujarat.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Imam was on the journey to collect donations for his madrassa when a group of individuals, who boarded the train at the same station, began hurling offensive remarks targeting Muslims. The situation escalated when a woman among the group accused the elderly man of being Pakistani.
Family members recounted that the train’s Ticket Collector instructed the Imam to relocate near the gate area. It was there that two men, accompanied by the woman who previously hurled accusations, assaulted him. The assailants not only slapped the Imam but also recorded a video of the attack while making false claims against him.
Despite the Imam’s pleas for mercy, saying, “I’m an elderly man. Please forgive me,” the aggression persisted. The attackers forcibly removed his skullcap and continued to slap him repeatedly.
This incident sheds light on the ongoing challenges faced by Muslims in India, particularly in states governed by the BJP, where minorities are reportedly subjected to frequent hostilities.