In yet another instance highlighting Islamic fanaticism, a disturbing incident has emerged from the Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh, bearing a disconcerting resemblance to the beheading of Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor in Rajasthan. This week, a first-year engineering student, identified as Lareb Hashmi, attacked a bus conductor, Harikesh Vishwakarma, with a cleaver that he had concealed inside the bus. Subsequent to the assault, Hashmi recorded a video glorifying his crime, accompanied by Islamic chants such as “Labbaik Ya Rasul Allah.” He claimed that he sought retribution for the alleged blasphemy against Prophet Mohammad and declared that the “Kaffir” would perish. The victim’s family was contacted by Organiser, confirming that Harikesh Vishwakarma is alive and receiving treatment in the hospital.
Meanwhile, the police arrested the accused after an encounter, resulting in a gunshot injury to Hashmi. Hashmi, a B.Tech student at United Engineering College, targeted Harikesh Vishwakarma, the bus conductor and the primary provider for his family.
Why Lareb attacked Harikesh?
According to reports on November 25, Lareb Hashmi assaulted 24-year-old Harikesh with a cleaver, accusing him of ‘blasphemy.’ Harikesh sustained severe injuries to his neck and body from the cleaver attack and was subsequently hospitalized at SRN Hospital.
Conflicting accounts surround the motive behind the attack. Some sources suggest it stemmed from a disagreement over a bus ticket, while others claim it occurred after Harikesh intervened to prevent Lareb from harassing a woman on the bus.
It is important for readers to note that Lareb Hashmi, a first-year B.Tech student at United Engineering College and a resident of Hajiganj Soraon, commuted daily to the college by electric city bus from Phaphamau. A recent altercation over bus fare had taken place between him and the bus conductor, Harikesh Vishwakarma, a few days prior. On the day of the incident, Friday, the dispute over the fare reignited, leading to Lareb taking out a cleaver from his bag and attacking the bus conductor.
What says the FIR?
As per the First Information Report (FIR), accessible to Organiser and filed at the Industrial Area police station, the victim’s father, Ramshiromani Vishwakarma, informed the police that his son had been assaulted by Lareb inside the bus and had been subsequently hospitalized. Acting on his complaint, the accused was charged under IPC section 307 for attempted murder.
According to reports, the injured conductor’s parents, Ram Shiromani and Phool Patti Devi, are currently at the hospital, fervently hoping for their only son’s swift recovery. The distressed and financially challenged father has reached out to the government of CM Yogi Adityanath for assistance in covering his son’s medical expenses. He remains optimistic about receiving justice under the leadership of PM Modi and CM Yogi. Ram Shiromani, the father of Harikesh Vishwakarma, resides in Semri village of Pratappur in Phulpur tehsil.
What said the victim’s father?
Organiser contacted Ram Shiromani on November 25 while he was still at the hospital. Despite rumors suggesting Harikesh’s demise, his father clarified that he was undergoing treatment and had been admitted to the ICU. He further conveyed the doctors’ assurance that his son’s condition would improve soon.
The Prayagraj police also discarded claims around the death of the victim.
“Labbaik Ya Rasul Allah..”
Significantly, after the assault on Harikesh, Lareb took to social media to share a video wherein he claimed, “(The bus conductor) was insulting Muslims. So, I attacked him with a cleaver. He won’t survive. He will be dead soon. From India to France, whoever insults our Prophet will be exterminated,” as asserted by the Islamist.
Kanhaiyalal like incident in Prayagraj
Md Lareb Hashmi reportedly has sIit throat of a bus conductor named Hariksh Vishwakarma over some dispute.
After that he made a video confessing the crime as well. pic.twitter.com/NcyF8MTLvK
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) November 24, 2023
Expressing fervent devotion, Lareb Hashmi continued, stating, “We are ready to die for you and go to jail, O Prophet Muhammad. Dear Muslims, rise above this world’s materialism and be prepared to sacrifice your life for the Prophet,” while directing explicit verbal abuse towards the victim.
During the justification of the brutal attack on the Hindu bus conductor, the Islamist chanted ‘Allah hu Akbar’ and ‘La ilaha illallah muhammadur rasulullah.’
What said the police?
Upon receiving information about the incident, the police promptly arrived at the college campus. In an attempt to evade arrest, Lareb Hashmi fired at the police but was subsequently shot in the leg during the retaliatory action. He was later admitted to the hospital for the treatment of his gunshot injury.
उत्तर प्रदेश पुलिस ने लारेब हाशमी को गोली मारकर गिरफ़्तार किया
◆ आरोपी लारेब हाशमी का अस्पताल में इलाज चल रहा है
◆ यूपी भाजपा विधायक ने ट्वीट कर दी जानकारी
Prayagraj | #Prayagraj | #UttarPradesh | Lareb Hashmi | #LarebHashmi | @shalabhmani pic.twitter.com/wyr9gYWfIc
— News24 (@news24tvchannel) November 25, 2023
Addressing the situation, DCP (Yamunanagar) Abhinav Tyagi stated, “Following the incident, the police arrested the accused, and a case under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code was registered. Further investigation is underway.”
