In a troubling turn of events, the three men accused of brutally assaulting 72-year-old Haji Ashraf Maniyar on the Dhule-CSMT Express were initially released on bail despite the gravity of their actions. The incident, which occurred over suspicions that Maniyar was carrying beef, saw the elderly man viciously beaten, threatened with being thrown from the moving train, and robbed of his possessions. The attackers, identified as Akash Ohad, Nitesh Ahire, and Jaish Mohite, faced only bailable charges initially, leading to their release on a mere ₹15,000 personal bond each.
The Thane Railway Police’s decision to register the case under bailable sections, without recognizing the assault as a hate crime, sparked widespread anger and disbelief. The lack of appropriate charges was seen as a gross oversight, especially considering the severity of the crime and the clear signs of religious bias in the attack.
The mishandling of the case prompted Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Jitendra Awhad to visit the Thane GRP on Sunday, where he expressed strong disapproval of the police’s actions. He particularly emphasized the need to investigate whether the assault was motivated by religious hatred, a charge that could significantly alter the nature of the prosecution. His intervention led to renewed scrutiny of the case.
On the following day, a delegation of Congress leaders, led by Member of Parliament (MP) Professor Varsha Gaikwad, along with representatives from various NGOs, met with the Railway Police Commissioner, Dr. Ravindra Shisve. They demanded that the case be re-investigated with more serious, non-bailable charges, including robbery and hate crime.
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