Prime Suspect, 2 Others Held For Attacking Gurugram Muslim Family

Around 20 to 25 people barged into the home of a Muslim family in Gurugram with rods and swords on Holi.

A screenshot of the video that shows members of the family screaming in fear as the mob continued attacking them.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam

Three days after a mob of “20-25” men entered the home of a Muslim family in Gurugram and attacked the members present with rods, sticks and swords, police – as of Monday, 25 March – arrested three people in connection with the case.

Two of the three people arrested in the case have been identified as Dhirendra alias Dhire, who was arrested on Sunday, and prime suspect Mahesh Kumar, who was arrested on Friday and has now been sent to judicial remand, reported The Indian Express, quoting police officials. Both Dhire and Mahesh Kumar belonged to Naya Gaon, barely 2 kms from the place where the Muslim family lived.

On the day of holi, the group of men attacked the home of Mohammad Sajid who lives with his wife and six children in Gurugram’s Dhamaspur village, after a fight broke out during a game of cricket.

On Saturday, 23 March, the police identified six more persons in connection with the assault, reports Hindustan Times.

The Incident

Viewer discretion advised for the below video:

Sajid’s nephew and other members of the family were reportedly playing cricket at a vacant plot close to the house when they were accosted by two men on a bike. The men allegedly questioned them about what they were doing there and then said, “Go to Pakistan and play.”

“They began fighting and when my uncle Sajid intervened, the boy sitting at the back of the bike slapped him and said, ‘You wait, we will show you.’”

Dilshaad, Sajid’s nephew

Just minutes later, Dilshaad and the others saw at least six men approaching them on bikes and many more on foot. They were carrying sticks, spears and swords.

On spotting the approaching mob, the youngsters rushed back to the house and locked themselves in. About 20 to 25 men then reportedly barged into the house, beat up the men, and stole valuables.

A picture of the terrace where members of the family were beaten.(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/ANI)

“We were making food for some guests when suddenly they entered our home. They beat me up with sticks when I tried to stop them. I asked them what has happened. But they said “aaj in mulloh ko chodna nahi”. They went upstairs, broke windows & doors & thrashed them brutally” 

Mohammad Sajid’s wife Sameena to ANI 

While speaking to The Indian Express she said, “They broke the windows, our cars and took away valuables, including a pair of gold earrings, a gold chain and Rs 25,000 I had kept in the house.”

The mob vandalised vehicles and broke the windows.(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/ANI)

Case Registered Under Attempt to Murder

Injured members of the family. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/ANI)

With an investigation now underway, police have registered an FIR under attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, among other sections, against the accused.

Police have arrested one accused. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/ANI)

One accused has been arrested in the case and is being interrogated.

“There was a fight that broke out in the afternoon of 21 March in Bhondsi, Gurgaon between teenagers and young adults who were playing cricket. Tempers soared, people started raising voices, and then they began threatening each other. People from a number of communities got together and began to beat the Muslim boys up.”

Investigating officer Charan Singh to <b>The Quint</b>

However, Singh claimed that the incident “was not a communal issue” – and was only a fight over a game of cricket.

The police added that the boys who were beaten were later taken to the hospital and have returned home.