Mohd Sharafat Khan, Imam of the Masjid Islamiya in the Trombay area of Mumbai, Maharashtra alleges that he was abused, chased and almost lynched by an enraged Hindu mob during the ‘Garba’ festivities on October 22.
Khan faced the attack despite having two constables to escort him pass through the area.
Garba is a devotional dance performed to honour Goddess Durga during Navaratri. The dance is performed in masses by the followers of the Hindu religion.
“My wife and daughter were waiting for me to pick them up from the bus stop as they were returning from the hospital after a medical diagnosis. I waited till 11:30 for Garba to get over as I thought my presence in Kurta pyjama and skullcap might disturb them. But since it was getting late I had to leave and pass through that area because there was no other way to reach the bus stop,” Khan told Maktoob.
According to Khan, the mob blocked his way and started arguing with him.
“I called the police station and they sent two constables to escort me to pass through the area but even they failed in front of the mob and the police couldn’t control them.”
“In front of the police, they started hurling Islamophobic slurs and raised slogans such as Kato Mullo ko, Mulley Katey jayenge and Jai Shree Ram and manhandled me, I was almost killed by them,” he added.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here .