By MEER FAISAL

Samir Chaudhary, 22, from Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh, was lynched to death by Hindutva militants on Thursday evening, while he was returning home from the work.

Speaking to Maktoob, Samir’s Cousin, Pravej claimed the assailants lynched him for his “Muslim identity”.

“While returning from work some boys caught hold of him near Shamli bus stand. They attacked him with sticks and iron rods and killed him”.

Chaudhary was the sole breadwinner in his family after his father died of cancer four years ago.

He leaves behind a family of two brothers, a sister and a mother.

“He has been killed just because he is a Muslim and there can be no other reason”. Parvej Chaudhary told Maktoob. According to the cousin, the Hindu groups attacked two other younger boys who were with Chaudhary but they managed to escape.

The Uttar Pradesh police have filed FIR against the accused under IPC 302,147 and 148. One arrest has been made so far, according to the family.

The FIR registered by Adarsh Mandi police station, accessed by Maktoob, names eight Hindu men.

“The accused fled from the spot mistaking Sameer was dead. The person present on the spot took Sameer to the police station. and from there went to CHC Shamli who was referred by the doctor to Muzaffar but he died on the way,” reads the FIR.

This story first appeared on maktoobmedia.com