Communal Tension In New Delhi After Hindu Man Killed By Mob Over Honking

A man named Nitesh Kumar, who was attacked by a mob in New Delhi, died in the hospital on Sunday (16 October).

As the mob comprised men from the Muslim community, security forces have been deployed in the area to prevent communal violence.

The incident happened on 13 October in Shadipur area. Nitesh sustained severe injuries in the attack and died in the hospital. The 27-year-old was a volunteer for Bajrang Dal, the youth-arm of Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

This is the second such major lynching in the capital city in two weeks.

On 1 October, a man named Manish was stabbed to death by three men namely Mohammed Faizan, Mohammed Bilal and Mohammed Aalam for refusing to withdraw an attempt-to-murder case against two of their accomplices named Mohammed Mohsin and Mohammed Shakir. 

In the recent death of Nitesh, violence broke out between men from two religious groups over the trivial matter of honking.

As per police, Nitish, Alok and Monty roughed up a man from the Muslim community. The latter returned with a mob of his co-religionists to beat the three men, who were outnumbered and overpowered.

The accused have been identified as Mohammed Ujina, Mohammed Adnan and Mohammed Abbas. 

A case under IPC section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) has been registered against the accused.

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed in the area. To quell tension, DCP (Central) Shweta Chauhan told the media that the incident should not be seen as a communal crime.

Nitesh’s friends Alok and Monty have been quoted by The Times of India as saying that while they were walking, the accused were on bikes. The latter started abusing the trio for no reason. When the matter escalated, they called 10-15 men who came armed with sticks and rods. 

Nitesh’s mother Babita told the media she wanted the same fate for the accused as the one her son met with. Nitesh lived with his mother and younger brother.