The festival of colours’ this year was marred by multiple incidents of molestation, violence, and harassment against Muslims, particularly women, between March 23 and 25, ahead of and during celebrations across different parts of the country.
Uttar Pradesh
Bijnor
In Dhampur town of Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district, a Muslim man along with his sister and mother, returning from a doctor’s visit were subjected to harassment by a mob of Holi celebrating men on March 23.
Dilshad (28), who goes by his first name, is a resident of the Jamalpur Alam area of Dhampur. He was unaware of what was going to transpire that day when he decided to step out of his house with his younger sister Sofia and mother Zayeda to take them to a clinic in Khari Kuan at a distance of around 3 kilometres from his house.
In a video that surfaced on social media sites, Dilshad can be seen defending himself and the two women pillion riding on his two-wheeler while the crowd surrounding them was forcibly rubbing Holi colours on their faces and body parts.
As the harassment escalated, the Hindu mob playing Holi can also be seen dousing the Muslim family with water while they were visibly trying to resist the violence. The assailants also splashed coloured water as Dilshad, Sofia, and Zayeda somehow managed to leave the spot.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.