A Muslim man was beaten up by members of a right-wing Hindu organisation on Monday at a Ghaziabad court for attempting to marry a Hindu woman. A video of the assault on the court premises has gone viral.
Police say Sahil Khan, a native of Bhopal, who works in Noida, met Preeti Singh, a native of Bijnore district in Uttar Pradesh, who also works in Noida, through a common friend. “After they fell in love, they decided to marry as their parents were not agreeing. The girl is a Rajput by caste and the man is a Muslim.
The couple wanted to register their marriage at a Ghaziabad court as a friend told that it is a safe and easy process there,” a police official said.
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On Monday, the couple reached the court to meet an advocate. Even as they were discussing about the procedure to get married, a crowd barged into the advocate’s chamber and started a scuffle with Mr. Khan. Police reached the spot and brought the couple to the Sihani Gate police station. The mob also damaged the cab in which the couple arrived.
The couple refused to file any complaint but a police official registered a case against the unknown persons under his own complaint. “We have identified two suspects, Navneet and Vinod Chaudhary as accused in the FIR. They are absconding,” said Akash Tomar, Superintendent of Police, Ghaziabad.
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Still in shock
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Mr. Khan, 26, has injuries and bruises all over the body. He is still in shock and was unable to figure out the situation.
“Preeti and I were sitting next to each other at the advocate’s chamber at Ghaziabad court, when suddenly a mob of 30-35 people barged into the room and started thrashing me. I was dragged, punched, kicked and abused in full public view but no one intervened. My cries went unheard,” he said.
“Now, we have been separated by our parents. I will be leaving to Bhopal. Our mobile phones were also snatched and damaged by the mob. It’s devastating that I will never see her again,” he said.