In Uttarakhand’s Pauri Garhwal, an elderly Muslim railway worker named Rizwan was assaulted by a group of drunk men while eating breakfast at a roadside dhaba.
A video of the incident surfaced on social media. It shows three men beating Rizwan, dragging him by his beard, and forcing him to chant religious slogans. One attacker is heard saying, “It’s the rule of Hindus here, say the slogan.”
Police identified the accused as Mukesh Bhatt, Manish Bisht, and Naveen Bhandari. All three have been arrested.
The assault points to growing concerns over hate crimes and alcohol-fueled violence. Experts say such attacks are linked to divisive narratives spread on social media. They stress the need for strong measures to protect communities and promote interfaith harmony.
