Muslim boy assaulted for not chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in Madhya Pradesh, one booked

The accused forced the child to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and slapped the boy on his cheeks when he did not speak.

By India Today Web Desk: Police have booked a 22-year-old man in Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa for assaulting a 10-year-old Muslim boy. The man allegedly stopped the boy, a Class 5 student, who was on his way to his tuition classes, forced him to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’, and slapped the boy on his cheeks when he did not speak.

Pandhana Police registered a case against the man under Sections 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

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Khadwa DSP Anil Chauhan said Pandhana police station received a complaint where a 10-year-old child’s father said that when the child was going to tuition, Ajay alias Raju Bhil stopped him on the way and forced him to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

After deliberation, action will be taken, he added.

The family of the victim told police that their child was preparing for Navodaya Vidyalaya and was taking tuition for it. They said Ajay alias Raju's father, Laxman Bhil, who knew the child, stopped him near Durga Colony.