Muslim Priest Assaulted While Returning From Prayer 

Snigdha Raju

A complaint filed by a priest’s acquaintances claimed that a Muslim priest, after administering his prayers late Sunday night, was attacked on his way back home for refusing to take a Hindu God’s name in Ranchi.

A group of some 20 men, armed with sticks and rods, asked him to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. This led to an argument and the subsequent assault. One brother, Maulana Imran, managed to flee but Maulana Mazharul Islam was assaulted by the mob, who kept hurling casteist, communal abuses at them.

The incident was reported on Sunday, June 10, when the Maulanas were returning from the Travih prayers from a nearby mosque in Agru village at around 10 PM.The injured has been rushed to the hospital and is out of danger now.

The allegation that the victim was beaten up after being asked to chant a particular God’s name is yet to be substantiated, said the police