THE killing of a mentally challenged Muslim youth in North-East Delhi's Sundar Nagari over alleged consuming of prasad from a Ganesh Chaturthi pandal has shocked everyone and drawn widespread condemnation. The CPI(M) Delhi state committee, in a letter sent to the commissioner of police on September 28, demanded immediate strong action against all those involved in this hate crime against a disabled person. The role of certain extremist groups in spreading religious hatred in the area also needs to be looked into. The Party had cautioned the Delhi Police about the VHP-RSS designs to escalate the communal violence in Nuh, Haryana to parts of Delhi then. The Delhi state committee of the CPI(M) demands stringent action from the Delhi Police against such elements promoting communal disharmony.

NPRD Condemns the Heinous Killing

THE National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD), in a statement issued on September 27, has strongly condemned the killing of Mohammad Isar in Delhi’s Sundar Nagari on September 26.

According to reports, Isar was tied to a pillar and beaten to death for allegedly consuming prasad at a temple in the area.

Incidents of abuse, physical attacks and killings of disabled people are being reported at regular intervals.  However, this has acquired a much more dangerous dimension with disabled people being targeted for their religious identity.

This is the third such killing reported by the national media this year. On February 25, a Muslim youth, Mohammad Faiyaz, a person with ‘mental health issues’, was beaten to death by a mob in Bihar’s Samastipur. Again in Bihar’s Saran district on June 27, 55-year old Zahiruddin a disabled truck driver was lynched by a mob of cow vigilantes.

Last year, in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh, Banwarlal Jain, an elderly person with disability succumbed after being brutally beaten over suspicion of being a Muslim. All these are the outcome of a sustained poisonous hate filled communal campaign.

While some arrests have been made, the case should be taken to its logical conclusion and justice delivered. Adequate compensation should be paid to the victim’s family.