Muslim Youth Brutally Attacked by VHP and Bajrang Dal Members in UP’s Kasganj on Suspicion of Carrying Meat
Kasganj, 8 August – (www.deccanlive.com): A shocking incident took place in Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh, where a young Muslim man named Hasnain was brutally attacked by members of right-wing groups—Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. The mob suspected that he was carrying banned meat, although no proof was found at the time. A video of the incident has now gone viral, creating fear among the Muslim community.
Hasnain, a resident of Chamunda Gate, was stopped near Mallahanagar village by the group, who accused him of transporting meat. Without any verification, he was beaten in broad daylight.
Eyewitnesses say the attackers didn’t wait to confirm anything. They surrounded Hasnain, chanted religious slogans, used abusive language, and filmed the beating. The video shows him being punched, kicked, and hit with sticks by several men.
A local man, requesting anonymity, said, “They didn’t care about the truth, they just wanted to punish a Muslim. The police came late—by then, the boy was badly injured.”
The Soron Police arrived and rescued Hasnain from the angry crowd. He was taken to a hospital, and the meat from his bag was sent for lab testing.
Surprisingly, instead of arresting the attackers, the police took Hasnain into custody for questioning, which sparked anger in the local community.
A town elder named Saleem asked, “Why is the victim being treated like a criminal? Our boys are beaten in public, and police question the injured instead of the attackers?”
An FIR (First Information Report) was filed against two named and six unknown Bajrang Dal members, but in response, Hindu groups protested at the police station, demanding the FIR be withdrawn.
A Bajrang Dal leader said, “We won’t tolerate injustice against our members. That meat was from a banned animal. We were protecting the law.”
However, legal experts and human rights activists strongly disagreed. Advocate Irfan Qureshi said, “This is organized violence in the name of religion. It’s an open attack on the rule of law, and minorities are being repeatedly targeted.”
Police say they are investigating all angles and promised a fair probe to calm the protesting groups.
Meanwhile, fear has spread across the Muslim community in the area. Many say they are now afraid to carry meat—even chicken or mutton—in public.
A local meat seller, Abdul Hafeez, said, “Even if it’s mutton or chicken, we fear someone might say it’s beef and attack us. What happened to Hasnain could happen to anyone.”
Rights groups and social activists condemned the incident. Human rights worker Zainab Naqvi said, “This is not the first time in Uttar Pradesh. Muslims are being terrorized with public beatings and humiliation.”
On the political front, opposition parties strongly reacted. They accused the ruling BJP of giving a free hand to extremist groups, which is damaging public trust in the police and justice system.
A local leader from the Samajwadi Party said, “If the attackers were Muslim and the victim Hindu, the entire system would have acted immediately. Here, police are being forced to explain why they even filed a case.”
Social worker Anwar Hussain commented, “The message is clear—if you’re Muslim, your rights don’t matter. These groups are fearless and act openly, without fear of the law.”
Hasnain’s father, Mansoor, was devastated. He said, “My son was just delivering meat. We still don’t know what kind it was. But even if it was banned, does that justify this kind of violence?”
So far, none of the attackers have been arrested. Only an FIR has been filed, with no serious action taken—raising concerns that justice is only for a few.
Local journalist Shafi Ahmed summed it up: “When mobs deliver justice and police stay silent, where can common people go for help? This is not the rule of law, it’s surrender to violence.”
Now, Kasganj is living in fear, and the bigger question remains: How long will the authorities keep ignoring such mob violence by extremist groups?
