In Maharashtra’s Akola a young 15-year-old Muslim child named Altamash has committed suicide after he was reportedly beaten, humiliated and abused by his school principal and teachers on account of his being a Muslim. As per a report, the family of Altamash has claimed that there were two teachers who would regularly and consistently beat him and psychologically abuse him.

The distraught father of the child, who studied at Guru Nanak Vidhyalaya, spoke to the media stating that his child had been fine. “It was only after he was humiliated in school by his teachers and principal that he was extremely disturbed and took the step to kill himself. Yesterday, the principal and teacher beat him and humiliated a lot that made him depressed. He returned home from school, went to tuition, and did his homework, after which he killed himself.”

The father says the child told them of the humiliating words his teachers told him and how deeply they impacted the young child, “The teachers words have been stuck in his head. The teachers have said, ‘I will kick you out of school, give you TC (transfer certificate). You Muslims students are harmful. Muslim’s children are not worthy of studying.” The parent has asked the authorities to ensure that the culprits are strictly punished after strict enquiry. According to Navbharat News, the Khadaan police have filed a case of suicide and that they will examine the CCTV footage from the school.

A 15 year old #Muslim boy, who was student at #GurunanakVidyalaya in #Maharashtra‘s #Akola, committed suicide hours after he was reprimanded allegedly by the principal at the school.

Family alleged that the boy was being tortured by teachers at school because of his Muslim… pic.twitter.com/4TydXvD4Ch

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) March 12, 2024

In Jharkhand’s Giridih, a young Muslim boy was seen being humiliated and harassed by a group of cow vigilantes. The incident was caught on camera of the incident. There was even a woman on the scene, whom the cow vigilantes can be seen asking questions and also they can be heard accusing her of lying, as per the video posted by Hate Detectors, a social media account on X that documents hate crimes.

In #Jharkhand‘s #Giridih, Cow vigilantes harassed and assaulted a #Muslim cattle trader. pic.twitter.com/qdQkaqTsNU

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) March 12, 2024

Amethi, Uttar Pradesh

In Amethi, Uttar Pradesh,  a young man named Anas from Unchgaon was reportedly busted and assaulted severely with sticks in the Shukul Bazar area. Approximately two months ago, Anas had been taking his mother, Parveen Bano, to a local medical store to buy medicines and he was just leaving the medical store and heading to an ATM to withdraw money when he was forcibly taken away by a group of unidentified men and taken to a secluded location, where he was subjected to severe beating. The  video recently went viral on social media platforms and was posted on Hate Detectors’ X account. Anas’ mother has reportedly lodged a complaint with the police.

In #UttarPradesh‘s #Amethi, Anas s/o Vakil Khan of #Unchgaon, #ShukulBazar area had been to medical store two months ago with his mother Parveen Bano to buy medicines and as he went to ATM to withdraw money he was abducted and taken to an isolated place and beaten by a group of… pic.twitter.com/RjdSh2xVrF

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) March 11, 2024

Solapur, Maharashtra

Hate Detectors on X reported that on March 6th in Solapur, Maharashtra, a 19-year-old Muslim boy named Ayan Murtuza Bagwan severely beaten by a group of 12 to15 men. A report by The Quint reveals that Bagwan was not only beaten and humiliated but he was also stripped naked and  urinated upon.

According to the police, Bagwan, who earns his living as a vegetable vendor had several complaints of eve-teasing and towards women, including a minor, against him after which he was reportedly beaten. The authorities also confirmed that he was forcibly taken to a secluded area and beaten by people. The police have reportedly arrested six of the accused involved in the alleged abduction and assault of Bagwan.

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Following this, Muslim men, especially labourers from six Muslim majority areas have reportedly fled their homes fearing rampant arrests by the police. Akola SP Sandeep Ghuge refused to comment on false cases being filed against the minority community members and the alleged exodus of these men, reported The Times of India. Even the District Collector denied such claims and said that these could be just rumours. While the SP claimed that these areas are deserted because of curfew, the Collector said that there was no curfew except section 144 was imposed between 8pm and 8am in the Old City area only.

A social worker from the Akot File area claimed that police were picking up Muslim men and booking them on murder charges. He claimed that areas apart from the Old City are witnessing this exodus including Sontakke Plot, Hamza Plot, Gudwale Plot and Khair Mohammad Plot.

A civic worker, while speaking to TOI said, “Cops are harassing innocent youths. My sister is a widow, four cops entered her home at Hamza Plot at 4am on May 13 and took both her sons aged 26 and 19.” He fled his home as he feared that he would also be implicated. Another person who fled his home, said that they were the ones pacifying the mobs and the police have apprehended some of them. He also claimed that police were beating up those arrested. “Our women and kids are living with whatever we have left behind. People are living in fear”.

The social activist from Mehmood Nagar also claimed that after the day of the incident, slogans were raised and stones were pelted in Muslim dominated areas. Further, when Muslims came out to protect themselves, cops arrested them. A girl’s hijab was allegedly snatched in Patur area, yet no action was taken by cops, reported TOI.

The violence erupted after a social media post linked to the movie insulted the Prophet. A crowd had gathered outside Ramdaspeth police station to register a complaint. When another group heard of this, they headed towards a nearby shrine and damaged property and vehicles which then led to a clash as the crowd turned into a mob of both communities. Over 147 persons were arrested in connection to this violence and over a 100 persons are believed to be from the Muslim community. Internet was also suspended which was later restored on Tuesday.

Related:

Maharashtra: 5 injured after 2 communities clash over Sambhaji Maharaj Jayanti procession, tensions simmer in Ahmednagar, Nashik

CJP complaints to CP, Amravati against Sakal Hindu Samaj event, urges stringent action

Maharashtra: Another hate event organised by Sakal Hindu Samaj, Bharatanand Saraswati delivers anti-Muslim hate speech

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Dignity in death is a right that most people are being robbed of during the Covid-19 pandemic. With families and relatives not being able to reach their deceased loved ones in time, the only choice they are left with is the cremation at the hospital or dependence on others to fulfill last rites.

The importance of last rituals in the Hindu culture hold immense significance for the community for they are a way of making sure that the deceased are at peace. However, at times when the Hindu community hasn’t been able to perform these rituals for their loved ones, on many ocassions during the lockdown it has emerged that the Muslim community has stepped up to help their Hindu brothers.

A beautiful example of this recently came to the fore after Muslim youths from a local organization, Akola Kutchhi Memom Jamaat, in Akola, lit the pyre of a 78-year-old Hindu man who died of a heart attack last week. The youths from the Muslim community performed the man’s last rites after his family allegedly refused to perform the same, The Indian Express reported.

Confirming that the Muslim youths came forward to help, Prashant Rajurkar, head of the sanitation department of the Akola Municipal Corporation said, “The man’s son, who lives in Nagpur, refused to accept the body and perform the funeral. So, a local Muslim organization, Akola Kutchhi Memon Jamaat, took over the responsibility. On Sunday, some Muslim men lit the pyre at the crematorium.” He also said that while the deceased’s son did not attend the funeral, he provided Rs. 5,000 for the ceremony, adding that the son was upset because of the media coverage and that his father’s name was out in the public domain.

According to Amravati Divisional Commissioner Piyush Singh, “The wife of the deceased man was admitted to GMCH on May 23 around 4 pm. We took her swab as she was symptomatic. The dean of GMCH received a message around 6.30 pm that the man had collapsed at home. An ambulance was sent but he was dead. The wife’s report came out positive on the morning of May 24. As per protocol, they don’t take a swab from a dead body but swabs of close relatives are taken. So, reports are awaited.”

Akola has become a hotspot for Covid-19 with more than 400 cases and the death toll there has risen to 25. This is why, Javed Zakeria, President of the Akola Kutchhi Memon Jamaat said that the organization decided to perform funerals of those whose families were unable to do so. Till now the organization has performed 60 funerals, out of which 21 were Covid-19 victims. “Five of these were Hindus,” he said. Zakeria also said that the volunteers wore protective gear throughout for their safety and though they generally stop after laying the pyre, the funeral of the 78-year-old they conducted on Sunday, was the first time they also lit the pyre.

This solidarity by the Muslims has been on display on earlier occasions too. Almost a fortnight ago in Mumbai, members of the Muslim community helped in performing the last rites of their 72-year-old neighbour after his family members couldn’t reach the funeral due to the lockdown. The man who was paralyzed since the last few months, died at his residence in the Zakaria Bunder area of Sewri, a Muslim-dominated locality, where he had been living for the past few decades.

Last month, in the suburban area of Bandra in Mumbai, Muslim men carried the body of their Hindu neighbour of their shoulders to the crematorium ground as the deceased’s relative couldn’t travel due to the lockdown.

The pandemic had been heavily communalized but a look at the news reports from all over the country show how Muslim neighbours are helping in the funeral processions of the Hindus.

Related:

Strangers as pallbearers: Death and grief in lockdown
Muslim community comes together to perform last rites of Hindu neighbour
Covid-19 deaths: Ash to ash, dust to dust

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