In Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, local police have charged 15 individuals, including Sanjay Mishra, a Bajrang Dal leader, following the release of a video depicting the assault of a Muslim man, Changez Khan, at a busy intersection on September 5. The incident occurred on the night of September 1 at Banda Chowk, falling under the Puranpur police station’s jurisdiction. The video has gone viral, leading to significant public outrage.
According to a complaint filed by Khan’s mother, the attack was carried out by a group identified as a Hindutva mob. The suspects have been booked for attempt to murder, among other charges. Prior to this incident, Khan had been arrested for allegedly molesting a local woman, but police have clarified that the two cases are being investigated separately and are not yet connected.
The assault reportedly escalated when the attackers took Khan to a nearby jungle with the intent to kill him. Police intervened in time to rescue Khan. Video footage from the scene shows Khan being beaten with various objects and stripped of his shirt, while another video from a hospital features Khan recounting the attack.
The FIR has been filed under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act. Section 191(2) and Section 191(3) address rioting and the punishment for members of an unlawful assembly involved in such acts. Section 190 pertains to offenses committed by members of an unlawful assembly. Section 109 involves charges related to attempts to murder, while Section 351(3) deals with criminal intimidation.
Sanjay Mishra, district president of Bajrang Dal, has claimed that the incident was a result of a confrontation involving motorcycle riders who were allegedly attempting to forcibly take a girl away. The police investigation is ongoing as they continue to examine the details of the case.
