Lucknow: A Muslim man in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district was allegedly lynched by his neighbours for supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and distributing sweets after the party’s poll victory in the state.
The deceased, identified as Babur Ali, was a resident of Kathgarhi village under Ramkola Police Station in Kushinagar. The incident took place on March 20, when Babur, who was returning from his shop, chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’ due to which his neighbours thrashed him.
According to Babur’s wife Fatima, her husband ran to the roof of his house to save his life but the accused people followed him and threw him off.
Babur’s mother, Zebunnisa, said the family took him to a local hospital, from where he was referred to the district hospital and then to Lucknow. Babur succumbed to his injuries during treatment in Lucknow.
According to Babur’s family, their neighbours were miffed over the fact that Babur used to promote the BJP. After the results of the UP Assembly polls were declared on March 10 in which the BJP registered a landslide victory, Babur had distributed sweets in the locality, his family claimed. His neighbours had repeatedly warned him about not supporting the BJP, the family claimed.
Babur’s family claimed that they had approached the Ramkola Police Station after Babur was threatened by their neighbours. However, the family claimed that the authorities did not take cognisance of their appeals.
Following Babur’s death, his wife Fatima filed a complaint at the police station, based on which an FIR has been registered.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Varun Kumar Pandey, who reached the spot, said that the culprits would be arrested in the case and action would be taken against them.
Kushinagar MLA PN Pathak also met Babur’s family and assured strict action against the accused. He also participated in the last rites of the deceased.