Muslim man attacked in Pilibhit, police file complaint against 15-year-old – India TV

A video purporting to show the assault on Muslim Changez Khan in Pilibhit's Puranpur has gone viral, triggering a police investigation. Authorities have arrested 15 people, including a member of the Bajrang Dal, on charges of attempt to murder.

The video, shot late in the evening in a dimly lit area with food stalls, shows Khan being beaten by a group of men. The attackers threatened him with a knife and a gun and removed his T-shirt while dragging him across the road. Khan's mother claimed that her son was rescued when a UP 112 police squad vehicle arrived at the scene. She also claimed that the attackers misbehaved with the police.

Victim already arrested for sexual abuse of women

The incident took place on the night of September 1 at Banda Chowk under the jurisdiction of Puranpur police station. The complaint was filed by Changez Khan's mother. According to a police official, Khan was earlier arrested for allegedly molesting a local woman. The official, however, said the two incidents were not related pending further investigation.

Rajeev Kumar Sharma, in-charge of Puranpur police station, commented, “The FIR in this case has been filed and investigation is on. Further action will be taken once the investigation is completed.” The FIR includes charges under sections 191(2) and 191(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for rioting, 190 for unlawful assembly, 109 for attempt to murder and 351(3) for criminal intimidation, among others.

Those arrested include Anmol, Sanjay Mishra, Raju Rathore, Dheeraj and Deepak, along with ten other unidentified persons.

Confrontation with cyclists who kidnap girls: Accused

Sanjay Mishra, the district president of Bajrang Dal, claimed that the incident was related to a confrontation with motorcyclists who were allegedly trying to kidnap a girl. Mishra stated, “Two motorcyclists forcibly took away a girl on their vehicle. Hearing her screams, we arrived. Then the motorcyclists beat one of my friends and abused him with anti-caste words. They also hit him with the butt of a gun. The motorcyclists also misbehaved with the police.”

(With PTI inputs)

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