‘Refused to chant Jai Shri Ram’: Muslim boy, uncle allegedly attacked in Lucknow, India

A Muslim family in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, has alleged that a group of Hindu youths and a larger mob assaulted a 12-year-old boy after he refused to chant “Jai Shri Ram” during a Hindu prayer vigil, before attacking his uncle and pelting stones at their home and a nearby mosque, according to reports by Maktoob and The Observer Post.

The alleged incident took place on the night of September 21 in the Badi Kali Mandir area of Chowk, where residents were holding a Hindu jagran, an all-night religious vigil involving bhajans and aarti.

According to 33-year-old Mohd Sufiyan, his 12-year-old nephew had gone out to buy groceries when some Hindu youths from the neighbourhood allegedly stopped him. Sufiyan told Maktoob that the youths initially asked the boy to bring them cigarettes and later demanded that he chant “Jai Shri Ram” after he refused their earlier request.

The boy allegedly refused and was subsequently slapped and assaulted. Sufiyan said someone then struck the boy on the head with an iron bangle, injuring him, before he ran towards his home with a group allegedly chasing him.

After the boy reached the house, Sufiyan alleged that the mob began throwing stones at the property and a nearby mosque. His sister, who was watching the incident from the balcony, was also allegedly injured by stones.

Sufiyan said his family called him while they had locked themselves inside the house and moved to the terrace for safety. He rushed home and said he found the house surrounded by a mob.

“I was only concerned about my family,” Sufiyan told Maktoob, describing the situation as frightening.

He also alleged that the mob attacked him when he arrived. According to Sufiyan, several people pushed him to the ground and kicked and stomped on him. He said he later lost consciousness and could not recall how the crowd dispersed or who helped him.

Both Sufiyan and his nephew suffered head injuries. Sufiyan required eight stitches on his scalp, according to the report.

FIR registered

Following Sufiyan’s complaint, Chowk police registered an FIR against six named individuals — Ashu, Vikas, Ashish, Anand, Mohit and another person — along with 200-300 unidentified people, according to documents seen by Maktoob.

The case was filed under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to rioting, voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation, assault or criminal force, and mischief.

Sufiyan, however, alleged that police had been slow to act and had invoked “lenient” sections despite what he described as an attempt to kill him and his family.

He also alleged that police had repeatedly asked him to visit the station to record his statement despite his injuries. Maktoob reported that its attempts to contact the Chowk police station received no response.

Family alleges growing hostility

The family said they are the only Muslim household in a locality comprising around 1,000-1,200 Hindu families. They said they had previously maintained cordial relations with their neighbours.

The family also manages the area's only mosque and alleged that some outsiders have claimed that the mosque, which they say was built in 1920, stands on land belonging to a temple.

According to the family, they have faced threats and harassment after opposing those claims. Sufiyan said, however, that they had never expected the hostility to escalate into an alleged physical attack.

“More than the physical hurt, we are deeply saddened that our neighbours became our enemies,” he told Maktoob.

Sufiyan further alleged that some neighbours witnessed the incident but were unwilling to give statements to police, fearing repercussions from people in the locality.

On September 24, a delegation from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen visited the family and the mosque. The delegation called for a fair investigation, legal action against those found responsible and protection for the affected family, according to the reports.

Sufiyan, who earns a living selling incense sticks and attar, said he has been unable to work since the incident and is losing income as a result.