Muslim family attacked with iron rods, robbed by 30-35 men on a train in UP

Lucknow, Jul 15: A Muslim family of 10 including women, children, elders and a handicapped teenager were brutally assaulted in a train and robbed by a gang on Wednesday evening in Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri district.

The horrific incident took place on the Shikohabad-Kasganj passenger train when the family was on its way back from attending a marriage ceremony. A group of 35-30 men assaulted the family with iron rods and sticks between Mota and Nibkarori railway stations- some 30 km away from Farrukhabad junction.

A video of the incident showed group banging on the passenger coach in which the family was traveling and pelting stones to break the windows. They later jumped inside the train through the emergency window by breaking the glass panel.

50-year-old Mohammad Shakir, who suffered severe head injury along with fracture in right hand in the assault told Times of India, "It was a horror which I cannot forget. They attacked us with iron roads, robbed our belonging and molested our women. They didn't even spare my 17-year-old physically and mentally challenged son."

Horrified by the act, Shakir added, "They verbally abused us with some in the attacking group saying, "Kill them, they are Muslims", and they continued to beat us until we went unconscious"

According to Arsaan (22), son of Shakir, "The assailants groped my mother and sister and torn their blouse and salwar. They snatched their gold chains and took our luggage and jewellery. They even attacked other passengers who came to rescue us. Later the passengers abandoned the coach leaving us behind to fight the assailants."

"As soon the train stopped, the assailants jumped out of the train and called 20-25 youths who were already waiting on bike. We immediately locked the doors of the coach from inside and shut down the windows but the assailants started stone pelting and broke the emergency window panel. They barged inside the coach and again started assaulting us, while the other passengers abandoned the train," he said.

"After the incident we attempted to contact police on dial 100, but every time, call was dropped. Later when the train reached Farrukhabad junction, the GRP took us to hospital," he added.

The victims were admitted to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia government hospital, Farrukhabad, with fractured limbs and severe injuries to the head and stomach.

An FIR has been lodged under IPC section 395 and based on the video of the incident, special operation group and other police teams have detained three men and are questioning them.