Mohammed Umar Qureshi, a Muslim street vendor, was reportedly assaulted by a group allegedly affiliated with Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal in Himachal Pradesh’s Banganga.
Qureshi recounted that individuals from the Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked him, robbed him of his money, and coerced him into chanting “Jai Shri Ram.”
Originating from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Qureshi, who was engaged in street vending, detailed his harrowing experience in a video that circulated widely on social media.
During the assault, Qureshi claimed that the attackers declared, “Now our government (Bharatiya Janata Party) has come to power. Muslims would no longer be allowed to exist.”
He alleged that despite his plea for help, the police did not intervene, and upon attempting to file a complaint, he encountered resistance as the officers allegedly refused to register a First Information Report (FIR).
This incident is part of a broader pattern of violence and discrimination against Muslim vendors, particularly prevalent in North India, as evidenced by numerous reports in recent years.