By Ajoy Ashirwad Mahaprashasta
Jalalabad (Shamli): Jalalabad, a Muslim-majority qasba in western Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli, shot to infamy for the death of a Muslim scrap worker in early July this year.
A number of reports indicated that Firoz Qureshi, around 30-years-old, may have been lynched by a Hindu mob on July 4, 2024. But the state police soon lodged a first information report against two Muslim journalists and three others for calling the incident a “lynching” on social media. This move was criticised by journalist unions and many in the civil society.
Since then, Firoz’s death has polarised many in the region. While his family members believe that he died owing to injuries caused by the alleged beating that he faced at the hands of a Hindu mob, others have been inclined to speculate differently. Consequently, even after a fortnight, Firoz’s death has remained shrouded in mystery.
Business as usual
The newly-built and bustling alleys of Jalalabad market appear to have moved on, mirroring a usual business day, largely unaffected by the death of a poor scrap worker. Small grocery stores, makeshift eateries, repair shops, and fruit vendors make up the market.
Tucked inside its narrow lanes is a dense neighbourhood where the predominantly Muslim working classes struggle everyday to make a living. Firoz lived here with his wife, and his three children – two boys and an infant daughter. Their eldest is around five-years-old.
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here.
