Ghaziabad — A Muslim bus driver and cleaner were brutally assaulted and their truck set on fire by members of Hindutva outfits in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad district. The incident took place near Amrala village on the Bhojpur-Pilkhuwa Road late Tuesday night, June 3, reported the Times of India.
According to reports, the attack was orchestrated by members of Hindu Yuva Vahini and Bajrang Dal, including Neeraj Sharma and Madhur Nehra, who alleged they had received a tip-off about a truck transporting beef. Acting on the suspicion, the right-wing activists, joined by local villagers, intercepted the vehicle around 9 PM and searched it.
Upon allegedly finding a significant quantity of meat in the truck, the mob went on a rampage—vandalising the vehicle and violently beating the driver and cleaner, identified as Imran and Waseem. Shockingly, despite the presence of police at the scene, the mob continued their assault and even set the truck on fire.
Videos circulating on social media show the crowd chanting highly provocative slogans such as “Desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko” (Shoot the traitors of the country), “Bohat badhiya” (Well done), and “Police prashasan murdabad” (Down with the police administration). The incident sparked panic and tension in the region.
As the flames engulfed the truck, JCB machines were used to dump soil over the fire until fire brigade teams arrived to extinguish it. Police reinforcements from Modinagar and Niwadi police stations were later deployed to bring the situation under control.
ACP Gyanprakash Rai confirmed that samples of the meat have been sent to a laboratory for testing. He also stated that no FIR has been filed yet by either party, but both Imran and Waseem have been taken into custody for questioning.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from civil rights groups and social media users, who expressed deep concern over the increasing trend of vigilante violence, especially targeting minorities, under the pretext of cow protection. Critics have slammed the passive role of the police and the failure to take immediate action against the perpetrators.
