Guwahati: In what is called to be a case of hate-crime, a mob not only assaulted 68-year-old Shaukat Ali on suspicion of selling beef but also forced him to eat pork in central Assam’s Biswanath district. However, police has picked up five persons suspected to be a part of the mob.
Assam director general of police Kula Saikia told this newspaper, “Police has been asked to take stern action so that no guilty person is spared. I have also directed the SP to ensure that such an incident is not repeated in the future.”
On being asked about the identity of the group or people, Mr Saikia said, “Till now involvement of any particular group has not come to light. Most of those arrested are village boys.”
The incident took place on April 7 in Assam’s Biswanath Chariali town. It came to light after a video of the incident went viral on social media on Monday.
The video doing the rounds on social media shows as to how an angry mob forced Mr Ali to kneel down in the mud. The crowd also questioned Ali as to why he was selling beef and if he has the license to do so. The irate mob also asked his nationality while suspecting him, to be a Bangladeshi.
According to local police, Mr Ali is a businessman and has been running an eatery in the area for the last 35 years. The mob accused him of selling beef in the weekly market.
However, there is no restriction on sale of beef in Assam.
The situation worsened on Sunday when a mob, which was accusing Mr Ali of selling beef forcibly, entered the eatery and assaulted Shaukat Ali and allegedly forced him to eat pork.
