Kanti Prasad (60), a Shiv temple committee member in Meerut UP, was stopped while he was returning from the electricity office on Monday. Anas Qureshi, a habitual tormentor, mocked him for wearing a tilak on his forehead and a saffron gamcha (stole) around his neck and proceeded to beat the old man and threatened to kill him.
Later, when Prasad went to Qureshi’s house to complain about his behaviour, the latter beat him up again and inflicted serious wounds on the 60-year-old. Kanti Prasad was admitted to hospital where he passed away during treatment yesterday.
Kanti Prasad used to run a small shop selling prasad outside the Shiv temple in Bhawanpur’s Abdullapur, and was also vice-president of the temple committee. Responsible for temple cleanliness and conducting puja, he used to dress like a sadhu (holy man). Qureshi (also known locally by the moniker ‘Janleva’ which means deadly) used to often mock and harass the old man, as per locals.
After Prasad passed away due to his injuries, Hindu organisations started protesting due to which senior police officials arrived at the scene and Qureshi was arrested and charged with murder. Police is searching for his accomplices.
Today morning, angry family members and other Hindus jammed a road and levelled serious charges against the police. They demanded immediate suspension of Bhawanpur SO (Station Officer) accusing him of trying to save other accused in the matter at the directions of a local history-sheeter. It was only after Meerut Cantt MLA Satyaprakash Agrawal (BJP) assured them of strict action in the case did they relent and took Kanti Prasad’s body for cremation.
This horrific case is yet another demonstration of the skewed discourse in the country – while Hindus from all walks of life, including holy men, get lynched every other day and are being driven out of regions like Mewat, our elites want us to believe that it is ‘minorities’ who are living in fear.
Did you find this article useful? We’re a non-profit. Make a donation and help pay for our journalism.
HinduPost is now on Telegram. For the best reports & opinion on issues concerning Hindu society, subscribe to HinduPost on Telegram.