By GHAZALA AHMAD / Maktoob Media
Nurul Hasan Liyaqat Shikalgar, killed in an anti-Muslim violence that broke out in Puseswali Village of Maharashtra’s Satara District on 10 September, was the only child of his parents and the sole breadwinner of the family.
Nurul Hasan is survived by his wife who is seven months pregnant.
Triggered by an objectable social media post, a Hindu mob attacked the mosque in which the 30-year-old civil engineer was offering the late evening prayer. He was among 15 people who were severely injured by the mob that tried to burn down the mosque.
“Nurul was severely injured and had no pulse or heartbeat. He was rushed to Krishna Charitable Trust Hospital in Satara District, where he was declared dead,” Shiraj Shikalgar, Nurul’s maternal uncle, told Maktoob.
Nurul’s 75-year-old father, who teaches Arabic in the local Madarasa, is yet to overcome the grief of burying his son from his own hands. His mother, a retired nurse from a regional healthcare, hasn’t spoken a word since her son’s sad demise.
While the postmortem report remains pending, the medical professionals have conveyed to the family that Nurul’s cause of death was the sustained assault on his head with a heavy object.
After the postmortem, Nurul’s family refused to receive the body until the police registered a complaint. After much protest by villagers and relatives, the police filed an FIR against one Vikram Pawaskar and 27 others associated with Sambhaji Bhide Organisation, a local political outfit. Vikram Pawaskar is the state vice president of BJP Maharashtra.
“Nurul was innocent. A very conventional man who loved his family like anything. He was not at all involved in anything other than his family and job,” Shiraj said. He blamed social media, politicians, and hate speeches.
Two brothers, attacked by the mob along with Nurul, remain on life support. 49-year-old Sameer Baghwaan and his younger brother Sarfaraz Baghwaan were also offering prayers in the Jama Masjid when the Hindu mob attacked the mosque.
Shiraz Baghwan, the third brother, told Maktoob that he was getting ready and making ablution at home to join his brothers at the mosque but before he could step out, he heard that a mob had entered the village and attacked the homes of Muslims.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here