A journalism student residing in Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) Varanasi identified as Amarnath Pandey alias Nikhil Pandit was attacked by a Muslim mob who accused him of being a Bajrang Dal member. The student reached out to HinduPost to speak of the attack and how the police were refusing to file an FIR (First Information Report) in the matter.

Journalism student attacked by Muslim mob

“On 25/05/23, I was going to some place by an autorickshaw when a Muslim boy (Gulnawaj) came on his bike and stopped the autorickshaw I was travelling in. He pulled me out and took me inside his muslim area. He started abusing me saying I’m a member of Bajrang Dal, when I opposed him he called his brother, who came with many people from the area and started beating me. They pushed and shoved me into the crowd, and dragged me by my leg inside their area where they tore up my clothes. I was tortured and beaten for about an hour. When police arrived they looted me leaving my cell phone they ran away”, Amarnath informed.

Amarnath’s ordeal did not end there and little did the student know that this was just the beginning of his troubles. When he went to the police to file a case against the Muslim mob, the constable allegedly forced him to write an application according to the constable’s wishes and created an entirely different picture of the entire incident.

It must be pointed out that only a Non-Cognisable Offense (NCR) has been filed by the police. NCR has been filed under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 504 (insulting someone intentionally to provoke them).

Student alleges police inaction

When no action was taken against the accused, Amarnath approached the SI and investigation officer Sufiyan Khan. Amarnath says Khan is deliberately not taking any action against the accused as they are his coreligionists. The student added that they even went to the house of the boy (Gulnawaj) who attacked him but the police did not take him into custody even though the boy was present there.

“When a week was spent without any action on the accused then I went to DCP Kashi zone for help where DCP sir ordered S.O. Mathura Rai to arrest them at the earliest”, the student says. However, the police only called the two brothers and none of the accused. As per Amarnath’s statement, weak charges filed against the accused allowed them to get bail easily from the court. He says it appears that the brothers were arrested only as a formality following DCP Gautam’s orders.

As the accused are out on bail the student fears for his safety. “Now I’m just concerned if they will get me again and do the same or else they will beat or do the same with other Hindu boys or people. So please help me in this matter I’m so afraid that I can’t roam freely inside my own birthplace and city Varanasi”, Amarnath says.

HinduPost has been unable to get in touch with the concerned police station and police officials. It is hoped that the concerned authorities would take appropriate steps to ensure the safety of the student and deliver justice at the earliest.

(Featured Image Source: DNA India)