“India is touching the sky, has reached the moon, but on the earth, hatred is not showing any signs of stopping.”
In defiance of the strict directives issued by the Supreme Court, the disturbing trend of mob lynching in Rajasthan remains unabated.
From Pehlu Khan’s murder in 2017 to the present, cases of mob lynching continue to plague Alwar district. Once again, a tragic case of mob lynching has come to light, this time from Alwar, Rajasthan.
In this incident, a young Muslim man was brutally assaulted and killed, while two of his companions also suffered injuries.
Reported by “The Hindu” on August 17, the incident took place in the Ramgarh area of Tehsil Bansur. A mob attacked these individuals on the suspicion that they were involved in cutting trees within the forest.
The attackers comprised local villagers, and it was revealed that even forest officials were complicit in the incident.
The victim, identified as a 27-year-old named Wasim, sustained severe injuries during the assault. He was rushed to Kothputli’s government hospital, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries.
Wasim was driving a pickup jeep at the time of the incident, accompanied by his cousin Asif and friend Azharuddin.The family of Wasim alleges that a mob near the village of Narol intercepted their jeep, subjecting them to a violent attack and causing extensive damage to the vehicle. On the other hand, accusations have been made against the deceased and his companions, claiming they were engaged in unauthorized activities such as woodcutting and firewood collection.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Wasim’s family further asserts that forest officials were openly involved in the assault against all three victims. Allegedly, these officials supported the villagers and participated in the assault, using weapons like sharp-edged tools, sticks, and iron rods.
In response to the incident, an FIR (First Information Report) was lodged at the Harsora Police Station, leading to the apprehension of ten individuals for questioning, including four forest officers, on August 18.
Additionally, the police have taken custody of the forest officials’ jeep and have registered an FIR under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), encompassing charges such as murder (Section 302), rioting (Section 147), unlawful assembly (Section 149), causing hurt voluntarily (Section 323), and wrongful restraint (Section 341) of the IPC.
This tragic occurrence is not isolated; it falls within a series of mob lynching cases that have plagued Alwar district.
While the district has previously witnessed instances of cow vigilantes targeting cattle rearers, this recent incident indicates a disturbing shift—now attacks are transpiring over suspicions of tree felling.
