Elder muslim driver forced to chant “Jai Shree Ram” and gets beaten up

Gapphar Ahmad Kacchawa was left with broken teeth, a swollen eye and bruises on cheek after the assault. Photo by Express

Jaipur, India — A 52-year-old Muslim auto-rickshaw driver was beaten up by two people on Friday and was allegedly forced to chant pro-Modi slogans.

The complainant told that he was stopped by the accused when he was returning after dropping off passengers. The two people then asked him for tabacco to which he replied saying that he did not have the brand which they wanted and the people beat up him for that matter.

The accused had then asked the Muslim driver to chant 
‘Zindabad Modi’ and ‘Jai Shree Ram’ to which the accused responded by doing so. However, the accused again beat up the complainant. 

The victim and accused were later identified by the police. The victim was a 52-year-old named Gaffar Ahmed and the accused were in their mid-30s, who were identified as Rajendra and Shambhu Lal.

The Sikar Sadar SHO Pushpendra Singh told that, “According the complainant, when he was returning to the village bus stand after dropping his passengers, the accused who had parked their vehicle on the side of the road waived at Ahmed to stop. The duo then asked for tobacco but when the victim said that he did not have it, they asked him say ‘Zindabad Modi’ and when he refused they hit him again.”

The victim then claimed that he chanted ‘Zindabad Modi’ and ‘Jai Shree Ram’ but the accused again beat him. “Ahmed somehow managed to escape in his auto but the accused soon caught up with him and apparently dragged him out by holding his beard after which they thrashed him again before taking off with his wristwatch and Rs 700,” said the SHO.

Ahmed somehow then managed to reach home after which he was was admitted to a hospital where he is undergoing treatment for injuries including broken teeth.

Officials informed that they had arrested the accused and seized their vehical after receiving the information. The officials also mentioned that the accused were drunk at the time of assault.

A case was registered against the accuse under SC/ST Act, along with IPC Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), 384 (theft), 505 (offence against a community) and others.