A Muslim boy was badly beaten on Thursday in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh India for drinking water from the Hindu temple.
The boy had entered the temple to drink water when he was spotted by the temple’s caretaker, Shringi Nandan Yadav, 23. The family protested against religious extremists vehemently beating the boy.
According to social media & Insta Ac (hinduektasanghh), A muslim kid was mercilessly beaten by a man just for drinking water in a temple.Respected administration @myogiadityanath @ghaziabadpolice @Uppolice time to take severe action against culprit who tries to destroy our unity pic.twitter.com/GYIGay24Co
— Salman Qasmi (@mssitapuri) March 14, 2021
“My son stopped to drink water from a tap located inside the temple as he was thirsty. He was beaten up after they asked about his identity. He suffered a head injury,” said the father of the boy. The family added that usually, the boy does not go to the temple as he has been advised to stay away.
“He was badly beaten up and humiliated. Does water have a religion? I don’t think there is any religion that can refuse water to a thirsty person,” he said while speaking to the Indian publication, Indian Express.
उपरोक्त वीडियो का तत्काल संज्ञान लेकर टीम गठित कर मार पिटाई करने वाले व्यक्ति- श्रृंगी नंदन यादव पुत्र अश्वनी कुमार यादव निवासी गोपालपुर थाना संवारा भागलपुर बिहार को हिरासत में लिया गया एवं मुकदमा पंजीकरण/वैधानिक कार्रवाई संबंधी प्रक्रिया प्रचलित की गई pic.twitter.com/svo8ZKcgKr
— POLICE COMMISSIONERATE GHAZIABAD (@ghaziabadpolice) March 12, 2021
The family added that the temple was open to people previously but this has changed now. They hope authorities will give justice to the boy.
The Police have taken notice of the incident and arrested the main accused Yadav and another caretaker, Shivanand Saraswati, who had shot the video. The video had been making rounds on social media since Friday.
Read more: Distortion of jihad by Hindu priests-another attack on Muslims in India?
Ghaziabad Police says the main accused has been arrested soon after the video went viral.
SSP Kalanidhi Naithani while talking to The Indian Express said: “Any person found indulging in anti-social activities will face strict action by the police.”
Police said Yadav has been staying in the temple for the past three months. He hails from Bihar and was shifted to Ghaziabad six months ago.
Read more: Inflammatory comment on Muslims almost lands Indian anchor in jail
He was doing voluntary service at the Dasna Devi temple. The management of the temple has claimed full responsibility for the incident and says that they will provide all sorts of legal aid to Yadav who has been working here as an IT expert after losing his job due to a pandemic.
The management of the temple defended Yadav as the ‘good man’, adding that boy was not alone. “There is a conspiracy; that boy was not alone,” said the management of the temple. The incident is being used to stoke tensions between the communities says the management of the temple.