On June 29, Islamists observed Bakrid, a festival of sacrifice amid demands to stop animal cruelty. A controversy also broke out, in the residential colony of Maharashtra’s Thane, after inmates brought two goats inside the campus. The next day to this controversy, Maharashtra police booked as many as ten people for attacking a man who allegedly stopped them from sacrificing bull in the Nanded district.
The victim, Pradyumn Chaudhari alias Sonu stopped Muslims from sacrificing bulls on the occasion of Bakrid, as a result, faced assault. Sonu was attacked with sharp weapons including sticks and rods. He has sustained severe head injuries.
A First Information Report (FIR–70/2023) was registered at the Mahur police station of the Nanded district in relation to this crime on June 30.
The accused men have been identified as Salim Qureshi, Babu Thekedar, Asif Hasan, Salim Autowala, Anis, Shoaib Sheikh, Ejaz, Sohail Sheikh, Moin and Sanjay. All of these have been booked under IPC sections 5A and 5B of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976 and with sections 11(1)(d) of the Animal Cruelty Act, 1960.
A copy of the FIR can be seen here.
As per the victim’s statement in the FIR, the incident took place on June 29 around 6:30 pm. The victim was informed by an unidentified person over a call that Muslims in the Tipu Sultan Chowk area of Nanded were planning to sacrifice a pair of bulls on the occasion of Bakrid. Sonu reached the spot with his friend and began inquiring about the matter. Meanwhile, he also called up the Mahur Police Station for help.
During the inquiry, Sonu learned that the bulls were purchased by one Salim Qureshi and that he was going to sacrifice them on Bakrid. Later Salim Qureshi reached the spot and also called his community people for help.
Sonu further added in his statement that one Salim Autowala could be heard saying, “It’s too much now. He’s (Sonu) way more interfering in our matter. Let’s just finish him.” After this, the accused with others attacked him with an iron rod and sharp weapons. Many Muslims had gathered at the spot and ran away after they saw the Mahur police approaching.
What is even more shameful is that the attackers also snatched Sonu’s gold chain which he was wearing when attacked. The Police taking cognizance of the matter dispersed the mob and took the victim to the hospital immediately.
Atish Shankar Rathod, a friend of Sonu who filed the complaint in the case stated that Sonu had been on target of the accused Muslim men. He also posted some updates on Facebook which irked the specific community. Also accused Shoaib and Sonu had engaged in a short brawl a few days ago and so the former was already pissed off at the latter.
Sonu is currently hospitalised and is receiving treatment.
Well, it is pertinent to mention that this is not the only case when a Gaurakshak has been attacked in Nanded. Back in June 2023, as many as eight Gaurakshaks were attacked by the Islamists in the Kinwat taluka area of the district. This attack left as many as one dead and five injured severely.
A First Information Report (number–68/2023) was registered in this case at Islampur police station on June 20. The accused men were all booked under the IPC sections 302 (murder), 307 (attacking with an intention to cause death), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 148 (armed with deadly weapons), 159 (fighting at a public place), and 427 (mischief causing damage) and sections 4 and 7 of the Arms Act.
Gaurakshak’s were attacked when they tried to stop a car on suspicion of cow slaughtering mafia. Around 15-20 Muslims got down the car and then attacked the Hindu activists. Later the police arrested Sheikh Isaak Sheikh Chand (38), Sheikh Amer Sheikh Alim (30), Sheikh Mujahid Sheikh Isak (22) and Sheikh Mujemir Sheikh Fayaz (23) in the case.
It is noteworthy that the Maharashtra government has imposed a ban on cow slaughter under the Animal Welfare Act. However, a number of cows are still illegally smuggled and slaughtered in the state.
In the recent case of an attack in Nanded, the police have booked 10 people for launching an attack on the activist. Further investigations in the case are underway.
