Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh: A disturbing incident of mob violence emerged from Pratapgarh, where a 25-year-old Muslim youth, Maqsood Alam, was brutally beaten by a mob for meeting a Hindu female acquaintance. The incident is the latest in a growing pattern of anti-Muslim attacks fueled by rising Hindutva vigilantism, reported the Clarion India.
According to police, Alam, a resident of Gopalpur village, had first met the girl at a Jan Seva Kendra where she works. On Monday, they decided to meet again at a hotel. Upon discovering this, the girl’s family stormed into the hotel and assaulted him. As Alam attempted to flee through the main gate, a mob outside launched a violent attack.
Eyewitnesses reported that bystanders remained passive, and Alam’s family was unable to help him, fearing further violence. Police reached the scene belatedly and admitted Alam to a nearby hospital. His condition remains critical.
Shockingly, instead of taking action against the attackers, police registered a complaint filed by the girl, who accused Alam of rape, blackmail, and extortion. She alleged that he had coerced her into a physical relationship, recorded it, and demanded ₹10 lakh, of which ₹2.5 lakh was already given.
Despite the brutal assault being witnessed by many, no case was filed against the mob. Civil rights activists and social media users strongly condemned the bias shown by the authorities. Many users on X claimed Alam was being falsely accused and demanded immediate legal action against those who assaulted him.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind also condemned the incident, calling it “another horrifying example of how anti-Muslim hate is being normalized in India.”
Alam’s family continues to demand justice and has urged the authorities to conduct a fair investigation and punish the actual culprits behind the mob violence.
