A doctor named Danish George attacked and seriously injured his own brother-in-law, a young Hindu SC man Mithun Krishna (29) late last month. The attack happened at Chirayinkeezhu in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Media reports suggested that Mithun specifically told the police that both Danish and his church priest tried to convert him to Christianity. The police have not taken any action against the priest, mentioning legal technicalities!
All this points to pre-planned conspiracy and does not tally with the sudden rage story that Danish is peddling now. He even said that while on the run, he worked to help his brother-in-law and tried to shift him to a private hospital!
Mithun was coerced to convert from Hindu Dharma to Christianity but when he refused, Dr. Danish assaulted him. He absconded but local police tracked his mobile phone tower location and arrested him from a resort near Ooty.
Mithun married Deepthi George on October 28 at Bonacaud temple as per Hindu traditions. The couple had been in love for the past 2 years.
The newlyweds were summoned to the Chirayinkeezhu police station. In the presence of both her father and Danish, Deepthi informed all present that she wanted to live with Mithun. Some police-mediated ‘conciliatory talks’ took place following which she was allowed to accompany Mithun.
Deepthi’s parents went to Mithun’s house and said that they wanted to conduct a church wedding and Mithun agreed. Danish too met the couple and told them that he would talk to his family and get them married. As promised, Mithun and Deepthi went to the church on Sunday. The church priest and Danish asked Mithun to convert to Christianity and the groom promptly refused.
Danish told them that Deepthi’s mother would like to meet them outside the church and they accompanied him. Once outside, the doctor by profession assaulted Mithun. Deepthi testified that Mithun’s refusal of religious conversion ended in the attacks. While on the rampage, Danish abused Mithun using the choicest of casteist slurs.
Mithun has injuries to his head, throat and has internal wounds too. He had to be hospitalized. Mithun’s mother Ambika approached the police with a complaint and a case was registered under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Danish who works at a private hospital in Ernakulam went on the run. That same day a police team from Thiruvananthapuram set out to Ernakulam in search of Danish George but could not find him. Police cyber cell traced his mobile phone location to Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu. Interestingly, the police team returned to Chirayinkeezhu.
Nothing happened till Wednesday, November 3. On Wednesday, the complainants approached the media and videos of the assault captured by nearby CCTV cameras started going viral. Public outcry that followed forced the police into action and the Attingal DySP formed a team led by Chirayinkeezhu sub-inspector Vineesh, to nab Danish.
By the time Danish was arrested, it was Saturday, November 6. A newlywed adult couple being summoned to the police station, ‘peace-making’ talks by police, the role of the church, Danish relaxing at a resort after the assault, using his mobile devices, and the police delay in arresting Danish initially and leaving aside the priest, all seem sinister.
What would have happened if those CCTV videos were not found? Even though plenty of videos were available online of the assault, Christian media outlet onmanorama.com reported that Danish ‘allegedly’ attacked Mithun.
Danish was brought to the spot where Mithun was beaten up and he was seen explaining exactly how he assaulted and hospitalized his sister’s husband. Noticeably missing was any sort of regret or guilt. He admitted to the crime and was remanded to judicial custody.
