Team Clarion
VARANASI — Two Muslim brothers were assaulted with sharp weapons and sticks and forced to chant the Hindu slogan of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ by a group of about a dozen persons collecting donations for the Holi festival in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi district.
The victims have been identified as Niyaz Ahmed and Khurshid Ahmed from Dindayalpur village in the district.
According to Niyaz Ahmed, a group of local people had come to his home to collect donations for the Holi festival. He was not at home as he had gone to offer Taraweeh (special night prayers in Ramadan) in a nearby mosque.
When he came back home after the prayers, he was attacked by the group from behind after some argument. The group members allegedly hurled abuses and religious slurs at him. The attack left him with severe injuries to his head. As he fell to the ground nearly unconscious his shoulder and back also got hurt.
In the viral video wherein Niyaz recounts his ordeal, he is seen with a bandage on his head while his shoulder and shirt are stained with blood.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.