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Muslim bangle-seller beaten mercilessly by mob; minister justifies act

In an inhuman incident today, a bangle-seller was beaten horribly for hiding his Muslim identity. The mob mercilessly attacked the man, further encouraging others to come and thrash him as well.  

The incident took place in broad daylight in front of scores of people who remained spectators of the torture that unfolded. According to the police, the man was apparently beaten for giving a fake name. As per the 25-year-old victim, the mob stole Rs 10,000 from him as well.  

Justifying the beatings, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said the incident should not be given “communal colour” as the ruckus was allegedly due to the wrong name furnished. “If a man hides his name, caste and religion then bitterness comes in,” he said.  

He said the victim, Tasleem, sold bangles under a fake pretext despite being from a “different community”. “He was using a Hindu name, though he belonged to a different community. He also had two different Aadhaar cards… he was selling bangles which our daughters wear and apply henna during sawan (monsoon)… that’s how the altercation started,” Mishra said.  

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Videos captured by the spectators got viral on social media as users expressed their outrage against the assailants. In the clip, Tasleem can be seen on the receiving end of the assailants’ beatings in Indore’s Banganga area.  

Despite being a crowded area flooded with people, none of them come forward to help the man as unidentified men keep abusing him and deliver communal slurs, which the home minister has denied.  

The mob took advantage of the situation as one of them, while taking bangles from the victim’s bag, told the other to “take whatever you want. He should not be seen in this area anymore.” He also calls on those spectating to join him in the torture, following which, a man pulls up Tasleem by his t-shirt from behind. Others too come up shortly and participate in the criminal act.  

In his complaint to the police, the victim said, “The accused first asked my name and started beating once I revealed it. They also robbed the ₹ 10,000 that I was carrying and broke the bangles and other material that I had.” 

The incident sparked outrage as hundreds of people gathered outside the area police station to arrest and take strict action against the accused who can be seen very clearly in the video. Only after this, the police registered a case of assault, robbery, intimidation, rioting and an attempt to violate the communal harmony late on Sunday night.  

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Within 24 hours, the 3 main accused were arrested by the cops. The police have requested people not to divulge in reacting to social media posts related to the case.  

A senior police officer in Indore East police station, Ashutosh Bagri, said, “We would like to urge people not to react to social media posts that are communal nature. We are also keeping a watch on such social media posts. Stringent action will be taken against them.” 

Soon after the incident, Indore’s District Collector said that banned groups are affecting the religious harmony of the area, including Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) activists. He said they had instigated the youngsters and the police have gone ahead to file a case against the protesters who raised slogans outside the Central Kotwali police station. He said they are probing the case.