– Zaina Aman
In a troubling incident, a 15-year-old Muslim student from Class 8 at Narsing Higher Secondary School in Silchar, Assam, was publicly humiliated and assaulted by a group allegedly linked to the Bajrang Dal.
The victim was accused of erasing a “Jai Shri Ram” slogan from the school wall and was forced to chant the same slogan while being physically attacked. Despite repeatedly pleading innocence and denying any involvement in removing or altering the graffiti, the boy was coerced into taking responsibility under duress.
The attackers, some of whom were students from the same school, recorded the assault and later circulated the video on social media, accompanied by derogatory remarks against Allah. The video sparked communal tension in the area.
On Tuesday, the victim’s family attempted to file a complaint at the Sadar Police Station but alleged that the police initially refused to register the FIR. Instead, they claimed that authorities tried to mediate a “mutual understanding” between the parties involved. The perpetrators were called to the police station but were reportedly released without any legal consequences.
However, after the video gained traction on social media and reached senior police officials, public pressure mounted on Cachar Police to take action. Subsequently, three juveniles were apprehended based on the complaint.
In a statement, Cachar Police confirmed that a case had been registered, and the three juveniles were sent to a juvenile home.
When approached, Mithun Roy, a local Bajrang Dal leader, distanced himself from the incident, denying any connection to the assailants and condemning the attack.
