Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad saw tense moments on Tuesday, June 3, after Hindutva organisation workers thrashed a Muslim bus driver and cleaner, alleging they were transporting beef before setting the vehicle ablaze.
The incident occurred near Amrala village near Bhojpur-Pilkhuwa Road near Ghaziabad.
Hindu Yuva Vahini leader Neeraj Sharma and Bajrang Dal leader Madhur Nehra claimed that around 9 pm, they received a tip about a truck transporting beef. The right-wing workers, along with local villagers, forcefully stopped the truck near Amrala village, conducted a search and found meat in large amount.
The mob vandalised the vehicle, set it ablaze and thrashed the driver and cleaner, Imran and Waseem.
Videos on social media show a jubilant mob cheering, “bohat badhiya (Well done)”, “desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko (Shoot the traitors of the country)” and “police prashasan murdabad (Down with the police administration)”, the mayhem and carrying out their rampage even with police presence.
Finally, additional reinforcements were dispatched from Modinagar and Niwadi police stations to help control the chaos. JCBs were called to throw dirt onto the fire in a last-ditch attempt to hold back the flames before the fire brigade showed up and was able to control the arson.
Station house officer (SHO) Amit Sharma told Siasat.com that Imran and Waseem have been taken into police. He also confirmed that lab testing of the meat samples included cowhide.
Based on a complaint by Bajrang Dal leader Madhur Nehra, an FIR was lodged against the driver and the cleaner under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS).
Waseem and Imran are currently under police custody.
Additional information has been added to the copy. The earlier version stated the emat sample had been sent for lab testing. The new version confirms it was cowhide.
| Edited by Veena Nair | 
