Quite disappointing
At book fair in MP, Muslim missionary assaulted by Durga Vahini women for seeking contact details, booked
A missionary from the Ahmadiyya Muslim community was assaulted by members of the Hindu right-wing group Durga Vahini for allegedly taking down the contacts of women during the Ujjain book fair in Madhya Pradesh and later booked by the police.
Virak Saleem, a resident of Gurdaspur in Punjab, set up a book stall at the Ujjain book fair that began on September 1. A few women associated with Durga Vahini accused him of seeking their mobile phone numbers and beat him up Monday.
A 29-second purported video of the assault shows Saleem being surrounded by a group of men and women. The women slap Saleem multiple times, accusing him of taking down their numbers. As he sits down on the ground, he is kicked by a man, the video shows.
The police said a case was registered at the Madhav Nagar police station against Saleem under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The VHP in Ujjain said a group of women from the Durga Vahini wing had turned up at the book fair on September 3 around 7.30 pm and spotted Saleem “selling some suspicious books”.
VHP district president (Ujjain) Ankit Chaubey said, “One Durga Vahini member spotted this man selling objectionable books. This was communicated to the VHP, and a delegation led by vice-president Ritu Kapoor visited the stall and intervened after confirming the allegations.”
The complainant, a 23-year-old woman, alleged that Saleem had asked her to become friends with him and “held her hand with a bad intention” when she met him at the book fair in her locality, the FIR stated.
“The complainant alleged that when she asked him to show some books, he asked her name and then asked her to be his friend, promising to give her some good books. He then caught hold of her hand, following which the complainant hit him and began shouting,” said a police officer.
“Hearing the commotion, some people gathered at the book stall. The accused allegedly threatened to kill the woman if she divulged what transpired before he fled,” FIR stated.
Saleem, however, has claimed that he was framed in this case. “I was at my stall. They came, I don’t know with what planning. They sought information on some books. Then, they asked me for a copy of the Hindi version of the Quran. I said I did not have a copy and told them they could order it online. They gave me their contacts, saying they were school teachers,” he said.
Saleem said his “aim is not to harass anyone”; instead, it is “love for all, hatred for none”.
“If you think otherwise, take me to the police station and do an investigation. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community does not think badly of anyone. We respect everyone. If my sisters may have thought otherwise, I apologise with folded hands,” Saleem said.
Anand Mohan J – 2023-09-05 14:42