South Asia Human Rights Journalist Association

Maharashtra’s Prabhani, September 20:  A leader of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH) and head of a madrassa was attacked by a group of unidentified persons late at night in Indian state Maharashtra’s Prabhani district. Maulana Mohammed Sadiq Nadwi, who is the president of JUH’s Prabhani unit and head of Darul Uloom Furqaniya, Selu, faced the attack when he was on way home at 11 pm on 14 September after finishing the work of his madrassa.
“He was returning home along with one, Hafiz Junaid. Suddenly, three people riding on a bike shouted at them and banged Nadwi’s motorcycle. He fell on the ground. The attack was so sudden and severe that it left the maulana severely injured with blood oozing from his body. And the attackers ran away,” said Jamiat in a statement issued on Saturday informing about the incident.
Nadwi was taken to a hospital instantly by Junaid where he was treated. After the treatment, he is stable.
Maulana Hafiz Mohammed Nadeem Siddiqui, President of JUH’s Maharashtra wing, condemned the attack and demanded strict action against the culprits.
“If the incident is presented as a minor crime, such crimes would be committed regularly. It will cost eminent citizens their lives and raise questions about the rule of law and justice,” said Maulana Hafiz Mohammed Nadeem Siddiqui, President of JUH’s Maharashtra wing
An FIR was lodged and the police are investigating the case.
JUH asked the police to investigate the incident to ascertain whether it was a hate crime.
“But who carried out this deadly attack? Why did this happen? Whether the attack was carried out due to personal animosity or this was carried out by communal forces to fan communalism in the society and to create social divisions. What could be the reason behind attacking a gentle man and leader of Jamiat,” asked JUH.
Siddiqui has expressed his anger over the incident and asked the administration to probe it impartially.
“If the incident is presented as a minor crime, such crimes would be committed regularly. It will cost eminent citizens their lives and raise questions about the rule of law and justice,” said Siddiqui.
Zafarul Islam Khan, former Chairman of Delhi Minority Commission, first tweeted about the incident and described it as “hate crime”.
Zafarul-Islam Khan@khan_zafarul
President of Parbhani branch of Jamiat Ulama Maulana Muhammad Sadiq Nadwi suffered a hate crime at Selu in Parbhani in the night of 14 Sept. His motorcycle was attacked by shouting assailants riding a motorbike. He fell on the road, sustained head injuries while assailants fled.