In a shocking incident in Latur, Maharashtra, a three-year-old Muslim girl and her mother were killed when a group of five men allegedly chased and rammed into their motorcycle, reportedly driven by religious animosity. The family, returning home after visiting relatives, was pursued for nearly five kilometers before the fatal crash occurred, reported The Hindustan Times.
The motorcycle was being ridden by 35-year-old Sadique Shaikh, who, along with his six-year-old son, sustained injuries but survived the attack. His wife, Iqra (24), and their three-year-old daughter, Nadia, tragically lost their lives in the collision. Shaikh has alleged that the attackers used religious slurs during the chase, saying, “Muslims need to be taught a lesson.”
Following the intervention of activists and legal advocates, the Latur police have charged the five accused – Digambhar Pandole, Krishna Wagh, Basvaraj Dhotre, Manoj Mane, and Manoj Mudame – with murder. Latur’s Superintendent of Police, Somay Mundhe, confirmed the murder charges, initially classifying the incident as a case of road rage.
According to the FIR, the altercation began when a car swerved in front of the family’s motorcycle. Suspecting the occupants were intoxicated, Shaikh confronted them. The car then pursued the family and struck their motorcycle near Budhada village, leading to the fatal crash.
Initially, the police were hesitant to file serious charges, but after advocacy from lawyer Altaf Qazi and community activists, the charges were elevated to murder on October 1. A video later surfaced showing one of the accused admitting to intentionally running over the family, supporting Shaikh’s claim of a hate-motivated attack.
The tragic incident has sparked outrage in the community, with calls for justice for the victims and accountability for the perpetrators.
