New Delhi, Sep 28, 2023: In a shocking incident that unfolded in North East Delhi’s Sundar Nagri, a 26-year-old specially-abled youth, Mohammed Isaar, was brutally lynched to death on Tuesday. The incident occurred near a temple when he was accused of stealing ‘prasad’ from a nearby stall.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that Isaar had a mental disability, making it challenging for him to provide satisfactory answers when confronted by his assailants. Consequently, they tied him to an electric pole and subjected him to a brutal beating with sticks.
A distressing video of the incident, widely circulated on social media, depicts Isaar bound to a pole with saffron cloth as individuals took turns striking him with sticks. In the video, Isaar can be heard crying out in pain and pleading for mercy, while his attackers continue their assault, hurling abuses at him. The video suggests that the ordeal lasted for an extended period, with some portions captured in daylight and others in the dark.
Abdul Wajid, Isaar’s father, and a local fruit vendor, filed a murder complaint with the police. He alleged that his son succumbed to his injuries after being brutally assaulted by a group of people who suspected him of theft.
The Delhi Police confirmed that Isaar was specially-abled and had four sisters. The police detained several people in connection with the alleged lynching and are scrutinizing the CCTV footage and mobile phone videos to identify the assailants.
The lynching of Isaar marks another chapter in the sordid saga of vulnerable Muslim youth being killed merely on account of belonging to a particular religion. Isaar’s tragic death is a reminder of the widespread hatred in Indian society against Muslims. There is an urgent need to formulate a law against Islamophobia and sensitize the public about offering extra care to individuals with disabilities.