Hindutva activists assault elderly Muslim man in Maharashtra
Mumbai: In an alarming incident depicting rising tide of religious intolerance in India, Hindutva activists violently attacked an elderly Muslim man in Maharashtra state.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Hindutva activists aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked Zamir Umar Sheikh while on his way to his farm in Akola district. Sheikh was targeted simply for expressing his Muslim identity through his beard and a traditional cap – symbols that have increasingly become points of discrimination in India.
Witnesses reported that the attackers hurled derogatory slogans, including “Go to Pakistan or the graveyard,” highlighting a disturbing narrative that seeks to marginalize and dehumanize Muslims in India. The assailants, emboldened by their political affiliations, not only physically assaulted Sheikh but also vandalized his bike, reflecting a broader pattern of violence against religious minorities.
After police arrived at the scene, the attackers fled, leaving Sheikh with serious injuries. Sheikh was rushed was rushed to a local government hospital for treatment.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the escalating bias against Muslims, creating an atmosphere of fear and hostility within the community. Sheikh’s targeting for his religious identity is not an isolated incident; rather, it reflects a troubling routine that has become all too familiar in Modi’s India.
