Shakir, the 23-year-old brother of the deceased, Junaid, said the incident was not sparked by any argument over a seat, as claimed by the police, but because the attackers passed derogatory remarks against them and their religion.
Being treated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre, Shakir recalled the ordeal that took place in a local train while they were on their way from Delhi to their home town in Haryana.
While the FIR lodged in the case, based on Hasib’s statement, states that Shakir boarded the train at the Ballabgarh railway station, Shakir insisted that he was with them from Delhi itself.
“There was absolutely no provocation from our side and there was no question of seat sharing. It was a crowded local train and there wasn’t any seat to begin with. Hasib, others and I were standing all along as was the man who abused, argued and then attacked us,” he said.
Shakir alleged that the man, who had boarded with six or seven others, snatched the skullcap of one of the brothers and pulled his beard. The clothes and perfume that the brothers had bought for the family were also snatched and thrown from the train, he added.
‘Others stood by’
“That was painful but what followed was worse. Being the eldest of three brothers, my first concern was to ensure the safety of the younger two. But confrontation was not an option. I tried to calm the man down but he would not listen and kept abusing us,” said Shakir.
He said the man flew into a rage and slapped him before taking out a knife and stabbing him. Shakir accused the other passengers of supporting the man and not intervening.
Junaid, who tried to rescue him, was also stabbed multiple times and succumbed to his injures.
Shakir said that he had a narrow escape and would have been dead himself had the knife pierced a bit deeper.
