The media reports of a Muslim man in Gurugram being beaten up by some Hindu men in Sadar Bazar area had gone viral yesterday. The event had got significant attention on social and mainstream media after newly elected BJP MP Gautam Gambhir had tweeted about it, insinuating it to be a hate crime and preaching about ‘secularism’.
“In Gurugram Muslim man told to remove skullcap,chant Jai Shri Ram”.
It is deplorable. Exemplary action needed by Gurugram authorities. We are a secular nation where @Javedakhtarjadu writes “ओ पालन हारे, निर्गुण और न्यारे” & @RakeyshOmMehra gave us d song “अर्ज़ियाँ” in Delhi 6.— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 27, 2019
The police had denied the angle of hate crime in the incident. Yesterday itself, the Gurugram police had stated that the incident was a case of a minor brawl in a drunken state.
Reports had also stated that the Gurugram police was examining the CCTV footage of nearby areas. Several people were arrested after the incident where one 25-year-old Barkat Ali claimed that he was beaten up by a group of men who removed his skull cap claiming it was now ‘allowed’ in the area and had forced him to chant ‘Jai Shriram’.
As per the latest report in News18, the Gurugram police have examined over 50 CCTV footages in the locality and have found that there was a scuffle involving the Muslim man Barkat Ali and some other people. The argument also turned to push and shoving in which Barkat Ali’s skull cap fell down. The CCTV footage reportedly shows that nobody had deliberately removed Ali’s skullcap, rather Ali had picked it up and kept in his pocket.
The CCTV footage also reportedly showed that nobody had torn up Ali’s shirt either. The police, after examining over 50 CCTV footages in 24 hours, have also found that it was a minor brawl and seeing some men fighting, a sweeper nearby had rushed to separate the men and had asked them to calm down, following which the brawl had ended.
The police had stated that they had registered an FIR in the case. The statement by the victim had not mentioned him being forced to chant ‘Jai Shriram’ or being threatened to be fed pork. The police had also stated that from CCTV footage, it is seen that the entire incident was over within a minute.
The police had stated that some ‘anti-social elements’ are trying to paint the incident in communal colours. The victim Barkat Ali had reportedly stated that he is feeling unsafe in Gurugram and wants to go back to his home in Bihar. The police commissioner has, however, asked him to stay till the investigations are over.
Many mainstream media channels had reported the incident as a case of anti-Muslim hate crime. On social media, the incident was highlighted yesterday by many influencers as a case of growing intolerance and violence against Muslims.
