Aligarh Imam Assault: Cleric in Uttar Pradesh brutally beaten and allegedly forced to chant religious slogans; police deny communal motive, sparking outrage.
By Qalam Times News Network
Aligarh | Saturday, September 20, 2025
Brutal Attack on Local Imam
An incident of Aligarh Imam Assault has triggered outrage after a mosque cleric in Lakhanpur village was allegedly beaten, humiliated, and forced to chant religious slogans. The victim, Maulana Karim Mustaqim, claims he was struck with sticks, rods, and repeatedly kicked while slurs like “Pakistani” and “Kathmulla” were hurled at him.
Conflicting Police Response
The Aligarh Imam Assault has exposed a sharp divide between the victim’s account and the official version. While Mustaqim alleges he was targeted because of his Muslim identity, the City Superintendent of Police, Mrigank Shekhar Pathak, dismissed the charges, calling it a “simple assault” with “no religious angle.” This police stance has drawn strong criticism from community leaders and rights groups who insist the attack bore clear communal overtones.
Victim’s Testimony and Community Outcry
Speaking from his hospital bed, Mustaqim said he was stopped on his bicycle, forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram,” and beaten for nearly two hours. “They wouldn’t let me rise,” he recalled, alleging his assailants even threatened to bury him on the spot. Community leaders including Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind’s Aligarh district president, Maulana Mufti Akbar Qasmi, denounced the incident as an attempted mob lynching and accused authorities of shielding the attackers.
Political Reactions
The incident quickly drew political responses. The Uttar Pradesh Congress accused the state’s ruling party of fostering hate-driven violence, while BSP leader Salman Shahid warned of protests unless strict action is taken against the attackers. Critics online questioned the credibility of the police version, pointing to the imam’s direct testimony in video statements.
Call for Justice
The Aligarh Imam Assault highlights the growing tension between official denials and community experiences of religiously motivated violence. Rights activists are demanding an impartial probe, review of CCTV footage, and accountability measures to restore public trust. For now, the imam’s recovery continues under medical care as his ordeal deepens anxieties about targeted violence in Uttar Pradesh’s heartland.
