Aligarh Imam Assaulted, Claims He Was Forced to Chant “Jai Shri Ram”; Police Deny Communal Motive

Aligarh: An imam in Lakhanpur Bhagwanpur village, under Lodha police station in Aligarh district, has alleged that he was brutally assaulted on Friday in what he described as a communal attack.

The victim, Maulana Karim Mustaqim, said he was beaten with sticks and rods, slapped, and kicked. He further claimed that his beard and skullcap were pulled off and that he was forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram.” According to him, the attackers also hurled slurs like “Pakistani” and “Kathmulla” and told him to “go to Pakistan.”

In a video statement, Maulana Mustaqim added that the harassment had been ongoing for weeks. He alleged that the mob shouted, “He is a Muslim, beat him, drive him away from here,” before attacking him. He sustained injuries to his head, arms, and face and was admitted to hospital for treatment.

Police Denial

Local police, however, disputed the imam’s claims, insisting that the incident did not have a communal angle. City Superintendent of Police Mrigank Shekhar Pathak said, “The matter appears to be a case of simple assault. No evidence has emerged to suggest he was forced to chant religious slogans. This claim is completely false, and Aligarh Police refutes it.”

Public Outcry

The police response drew sharp criticism on social media, with many users accusing authorities of ignoring the imam’s testimony and shielding the accused. Several argued that the victim’s video account itself was clear evidence of a religiously motivated assault.

Political and Community Reaction

Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind’s Aligarh district president, Maulana Mufti Akbar Qasmi, described the incident as an attempted mob lynching and alleged it was part of a wider conspiracy. He criticized the police for negligence and demanded strong action.

The Uttar Pradesh Congress unit also condemned the attack, alleging that the state government was allowing antisocial elements to spread communal hatred unchecked. In a post on X, the party wrote, “The double-engine BJP government wants to plunge the state into the fire of hatred.”

BSP leader Salman Shahid warned that if swift arrests were not made, his party would take the matter up with the district SSP.