Men attack jaggery seller for ‘animal cruelty’ in Ghaziabad, 6 arrested

A purported video of the incident shared on social media shows a group of persons, holding sticks, attacking the jaggery seller. When others tried to intervene, they attacked them as well.

An eyewitness, Rohit Kumar, who recorded the video from his shop, said Dilshad has been selling jaggery on his horse for the last 12 years. “We all know him very well, he comes here once a week and the whole market buys jaggery from him. Some men first came and threatened Dilshad and accused him of animal cruelty. We tried to make them understand that this is not the case, but they did not listen. So, we called the police. The men managed to escape and came back with others,” alleged Kumar, who runs a clothing store in the area.

Ghaziabad’s DCP (City) Nipun Agarwal said: “Around 10.30 am, Nandgram police received information that a person, who was selling jaggery on a horse cart, was attacked by some persons. We immediately registered the case and six were arrested. Further legal action is being taken.”

Dilshad said he has been selling jaggery in the area for around 8 years and travels around 15 km daily to sell it. “I had just reached the market that day and a group of 5-6 people came to me and asked my name. When I told them my name, they started slapping me. Then some of the shopkeepers intervened. I ran and hid in a shop to save myself,” he claimed.

He alleged, “They were saying they are from a religious group. They said that by carrying jaggery on a horse cart, I am committing animal cruelty. My horse is dear to me. If I sell jaggery for two days, I give the horse rest for two days.”
Nandgram police station in-charge Pradeep Kumar Tripathi said police have not found any official record on whether the accused are members of any religious group. “All the accused have been sent to judicial custody,” said SHO Tripathi.
A case under IPC sections 147, 148 (both related to rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), 352 (assault or criminal force) and 307 (attempt to murder) has been registered.