Azamgarh: A Muslim family in Azamgarh is devastated after their seven-year-old son was found murdered in what relatives and community leaders describe as a hate crime. The boy, known for excelling in school and attending madrasa classes, went missing on September 24 while playing outside his home. His body, showing multiple injuries, was later discovered stuffed in a sack and hung from a tree near his house.
The accused include six members of a neighboring family. Among them are BJP workers Mantu Nigam and Shalinder Nigam, whom the victim’s relatives accuse of harboring jealousy and hatred. According to the family, the prime accused even pretended to search for the boy while keeping him confined. Police later arrested the suspects after an encounter.
The child’s uncles described him as bright, innocent, and deeply committed to his studies. They alleged negligence by the police, saying officers delayed action when the family first reported him missing. “If they had searched immediately, we would have found him alive,” said one relative.
Local outrage intensified after disturbing details emerged, including claims that the child had a tilak on his forehead when his body was found. Community leaders, including Rashtriya Ulema Council spokesperson Talha Rashadi, called it a hate crime, pointing to the climate of hostility against Muslims. He linked the killing to growing propaganda that dehumanises the community.
The boy’s family has demanded demolition of the accused’s house and the death penalty for the culprits. On social media, while many expressed grief and anger, some hate-filled posts celebrated the murder, highlighting the deep divisions that fueled the tragedy.
