Row over LPG cylinder turns communal, BJP councillor among 11 booked for thrashing biryani seller

The police said the altercation took place between LPG cylinder delivery agent Gurrala Lingam (30) and Mohammed Imran (32), a biryani outlet owner.

Two FIRs have been registered: One based on a complaint by Lingam, and the other by Imran’s mother Fathima Begum, the police said.

Meanwhile, reports claimed that Imran’s sister Ayesha Anjum, who was heavily pregnant in the video, lost her baby after she, too, was assaulted.

However, the Narsapur police refuted the reports. They told South First that they checked with Niloufer Hospital and found that the child had died of respiratory problems.

Location: Narsapur, Telangana

A Hindu far-right mob chanting “Jai Shri Ram” slogans brutally assaulted a Muslim hotel owner after he had an argument with a man over delivery of gas cylinder.

During the assault, when his pregnant sister tried to intervene, she was also… pic.twitter.com/LvMGfsWeZ7

— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) May 25, 2023

Also read: Moral policing: Muslim youth harass interfaith friends in Karnataka

The incident

On 7 May, Lingam delivered an LPG cylinder to Imran’s house and asked for the empty one. However, Imran told him to wait for two days, which sparked the altercation.

Both parties provided different versions to the police. While Lingam said Imran showered profanities on him and attacked him with an iron rod, the other man contradicted this.

Imran said Lingam launched an attack on him when told that he would give the empty cylinder after two days.

“He attacked me with a slipper though I was wearing a Hanuman mala (chain). He even tried to attack me with an iron rod,” Lingam said in his complaint, adding that Imran even cast aspersions on his religion.

Hindus wear the Hanuman mala ahead of a pilgrimage. During the period, the devotee should wear saffron clothes and abstain from “sinful” activities. Those observing the ritual are addressed as “Swami”.

Based on Lingam’s complaint, the Narasapur police registered a case and arrested Imran under sections 504 (intentional insult), 324 (voluntarily hurt a person), and 295-A (outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code.

“He was granted bail after spending three days in Sangareddy jail,” Imran’s brother-in-law Abrar Ahmed told South First.

Also read: Khadeer case: Docs confirm assault injuries on custodial death victim

Counter complaint

Imran’s mother complained at 11.40 pm on 7 May. She alleged that Lingam abused and assaulted her son. The assault happened after Imran said the cylinder would be given in two days, she said.

“He brought seven-eight people and they trespassed into my residence,” Fathima said in her complaint. She alleged that she, too, was attacked.

Based on her complaint, the police booked Lingam and 10 others under sections 448 (house trespass), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 504 (insult and provocation) under the Indian Penal Code.

The video showed Imran’s relatives, including mother and Ayesha, trying to shield him, even as the mob tore off his clothes in a bid to disrobe him.

Based on Fathima’s complaint, the police registered a complaint against Lingam and 10 others, including Rajender Yadav, a BJP councillor of the Narasapur municipality.

“We have issued a notice under 41(A) of the CrPC to them (to appear before a police officer),” Inspector of Narasapur Lal Mazhar told South First.

“We are in the process of filing a chargesheet. It took two to three days for us to identify them. By then, most of them had gone to different places as part of their pilgrimage,” he further said.

The officer said the gang members were not arrested as the offences, against them carried a maximum punishment of fewer than seven years.

The police, meanwhile, mediated between both groups.

Day by day Telangana turning into a saffron state with KCR a mute spectator, petty issue being given a communal colour & muslims being attacked in a moblynching style with police adding feul to such incidents with their partisan actions./1 @KTRBRS @spmedak @TelanganaCMO @PTI_News pic.twitter.com/ebZHwI1t4K

— Amjed Ullah Khan MBT (@amjedmbt) May 24, 2023

Also read: ‘Hindu Yuva Vahini’ members absconding after thrashing Dalit

A ‘miscarriage’ narrative

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader and Karwan MLA Kausar Mohiuddin released a video on social media, claiming Ayesha Anjum lost her baby within three days after delivery.

“The pregnant woman in the video, Ayesha Anjum, delivered the baby on 14 May and the baby was kept under observation at Niloufer Hospital for three days. The newborn died on 17 May. Ayesha’s condition is fine now. Her husband was unaware of the exact events but her condition was alright,” the MLA said.

Update on Narsapur Case:

AIMIM Prez Br @asadowaisi sb spoke to SP Medak. I had a word with Mr Abrar Husband of Ms Ayesha Anjum who lost her new born child.

The incident took place on May 7, where a fight took place between Imran owner of Kalyani Biryani hotel and Gas delivery… pic.twitter.com/ZuReQ4zvEr

— Kausar Mohiuddin (@kausarmohiuddin) May 25, 2023

He husband Abrar Ahmed, however, remained tightlipped.

Inspector Mazhar refuted that charge. He said if the foetus was harmed, normal delivery would not have happened. and doctors would have opted for a C-section..

“On 14 May, the baby had a heartbeat . However, the heartbeat stopped due to lack of oxygen supply to the brain, as per reports,” he added.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad-based Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT’s) Amjed Ulla Khan accused the police of siding with the perpetrators.

Citing several incidents of violence against Muslims in Telangana, he demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident by a sitting high court judge.

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