In a shocking incident that unfolded on Friday (25 November) morning, a man identified as Lareb Hashmi attacked a 24-year-old Hindu bus conductor, Harikesh Vishwakarma, with a cleaver in Prayagraj city, Uttar Pradesh. The assailant accused Vishwakarma of committing ‘blasphemy’ during a heated dispute over a bus ticket fare.

Lareb Hashmi attacks bus conductor Harikesh Vishwakarma

According to reports, the brutal attack resulted in Harikesh Vishwakarma sustaining severe injuries to his neck and body. Hashmi fled the bus and sought refuge in a nearby college campus after the assault. Bus driver Mangla Yadav recounted the sudden attack, stating, “Suddenly, there was an attack inside the bus. I heard a sound and then stopped the bus.”

Vishwakarma was promptly rushed to the hospital for medical attention. Meanwhile, Hashmi recorded a video inside the college campus, attempting to justify his violent actions against the bus conductor.

In the video, Hashmi claimed that he attacked Vishwakarma because the latter was allegedly abusing Muslims. He vowed that Vishwakarma would not survive and declared, “From India to France, whoever insults our Prophet will be exterminated.” Hashmi expressed a willingness to face consequences for his actions, chanting religious phrases and urging fellow Muslims to sacrifice for Muhammad.

Upon receiving information about the incident, the police arrived at the college campus. Hashmi attempted to escape and even fired at the police, resulting in him being shot in the leg during the retaliatory exchange.

Two separate FIRs have been filed against Lareb Hashmi at the industrial area police station in Prayagraj. Harikesh’s father lodged the first complaint, while the second was registered by Subhash Kumar Singh, the station house officer (SHO) of the industrial area police station.

SHO Subhash Kumar Singh, in the FIR, mentioned that he apprehended the accused at around 5 p.m., approximately 100 meters from the United College gate. Hashmi disclosed that the cleaver used in the attack was hidden in a bush near Chandy Port.

Accompanied by the police team, the accused was taken to the location to retrieve the cleaver. At around 7:07 p.m., he requested the vehicle to stop, claiming that the cleaver was located at a specific spot. However, upon reaching the designated area, he suddenly broke free from the police, walked a short distance, and began running away.

During the pursuit, the accused took advantage of the darkness, hid behind a bush, and fired at the police. The bullet narrowly missed the station house officer’s ear, avoiding any injuries. SOG (Special Operations Group) in-charge Sub-Inspector Ranjit Singh also narrowly escaped harm. The accused fired the shot using a 32-bore pistol concealed on his person. In self-defence, the police retaliated, shooting Hashmi in the leg, leading to his apprehension. The police recovered the cleaver close to the incident.

Hashmi, a first-year engineering student at the United Engineering College in Prayagraj, was subsequently admitted to the hospital for treatment of his gunshot wound. DCP (Yamunanagar) Abhinav Tyagi provided an update on the situation: “Following the incident, the accused was arrested by the police, and a case under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code was registered. Further investigation is underway.” Lareb Hashmi now faces charges under Section 307 of the IPC and Sections 3/25/27 of the Arms Act 1959.

The college suspended the accused, Lareb Hashmi

On Saturday, 25 November, the United College of Engineering and Research decided to suspend Lareb Hashmi in the wake of the serious charges against him. Addressing the disciplinary measures against him, College Principal HP Shukla stated that Hashmi was a reserved student who often kept to himself. According to the Dean, he was known for his quiet demeanour, seldom responding to questions and avoiding interactions with others. The college faculty, however, had not anticipated such a tragic incident involving Hashmi.

In response to the criminal incident, the college students organized a protest, demanding stringent actions against Hashmi. Expressing concerns for their safety, the students revealed that their parents were hesitant to allow them to attend college in the aftermath of the brutal incident involving one of their fellow students.

Furthermore, the students accused the college authorities of negligence, asserting they should be held accountable for the incident. Concurrently, various Hindu organizations staged a demonstration at the college, urging authorities to take decisive action against students with extremist ideologies. The incident has sparked widespread concern and calls for accountability within the college community.

Who is Harikesh Vishwakarma?

Ram Shiromani Vishwakarma, the father of the victim Harikesh, spoke about the financial challenges his family faces, emphasizing their humble background. The Uttar Pradesh Transport Department employees are generously covering the expenses of Harikesh’s medical treatment. In response to the attack on his son, Ram Shiromani Vishwakarma filed an FIR against Lareb Hashmi, attributing the assault to a dispute over bus fare.

During the attack, Harikesh suffered injuries to his neck and hands. At the same time, other passengers on the bus fled for safety. Nandan Yadav, a fellow passenger, took the initiative to admit Harikesh to the hospital. Providing an update on Harikesh’s condition, Ram Shiromani expressed relief, mentioning that his son’s health was improving, and he could now communicate.

Harikesh, a 24-year-old with education up to the intermediate level (Class 12) and an ITI degree, secured a job as a conductor two years ago when the electric bus service was introduced in Prayagraj. Married just a year ago, Harikesh played a crucial role in supporting his family financially.

Ram Shiromani, overwhelmed with emotion, tearfully spoke about his son during an interview with OpIndia. Harikesh Vishwakarma hails from Semri village under the jurisdiction of Sarai Mamrej police station in Prayagraj district. Harikesh is currently undergoing treatment at Swarooprani Hospital in Prayagraj.

(Featured Image Source: OpIndia)