Muslim cleric claims he was assaulted, forced to chant 'Jai Shree Ram' by 12 youths in UP's Baghpat

MEERUT: A group of 12 youths allegedly assaulted a Muslim cleric, pulled his beard and forced him to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in Doghat area of UP’s Baghpat district, just stone’s throw away from a police post.


Police confirmed that the cleric was assaulted, but refuted other allegations. All 12 accused in the case have been booked for assault.

In his complaint, 30-year-old Imla Qurrehman Qasmi, who teaches at Sabri mosque in Meerut’s Sardhana , said that he was stopped by the 12 youths while he was returning to his home in Muzaffarnagar’s Budhana area on a motorcycle on Saturday evening.

“They thrashed me, pulled my beard and my skull cap and asked me to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. When I refused to chant, they thrashed me again,” Qasmi said, adding that the accused also asked him to get his beard shaved before entering the area next time.

The cleric added that some locals intervened and saved himfrom further beating, after which he approached police. No arrest has been made in the matter so far.