BAJRANG DAL ACTIVISTS BEAT UP MUSLIMS, FORCE THEM TO SHOUT JAI SRI RAM SLOGANS

Bhelsar (Faizabad), 24 February. Today morning trishul weilding Bajrang Dal
activists on their way to Ayodhya aboard Sabarmati Express terrorized dozens
of muslim passengers, veiled women and innocent children. They also
targeted passengers on the platform and forced them to shout Jai Shri Ram
slogans. Some of the passengers had to escape posing themselves as Hindus.

Eyewitnesses report that about 2000 trishul wielding
Bajrang Dal on the Sabarmati Express coming from the direction of Lucknow
started their rampage from Dariyabad railway station. They identified the
muslim passengers and pierced trishul into them and beat them up with iron
rods. They didn't even spare women and children. The burkas of women were
pulled. They were beaten up with iron rods and dragged by their hands. The
passengers waiting at the platform were also meted out the same treatment.

This continued from Dariyabad to Rudauli station. An
eyewitness reported that one youth who resisted this was thrown out of the
train between Patranga and Rauzagaon stations. The train reached Rudauli at
8 a.m. As soon as the train stopped a number of bleeding and wounded women
jumped from it. Next the Bajrang Dal activists started identifying the
muslim passengers on the platform.

Ata Mohammed of Takia-Khairanpur waiting to go to
Allahabad on the Platform was badly beaten up and others were forced to
shout Jai Shri Ram slogans. Some people had to escape posing themselves as
Hindus. When 50 year old Mohammed Absar who lives near railway station came
out of his home his beard was pulled and he was wounded by a trishul
pierced into him. One other passenger in the Rudauli Police Station area
was beaten up until he became unconscious. Some local people informed the
police.

The Bhelsar Police Chowki Incharge arrived at the railway
station with force but the train had departed by then and wonded were being
sent to the hospital. Since the Police Station Incharge was not present at
the Police Station no complaint was lodged. The wounded did not know for
what fault of theirs they were beaten up.

The rumor mill is active. People are frightened and
scared. A number of respected Hindu and Muslim citizens and intellectuals
of the area have condemned this incident. Muslim religious leaders have
appealed to the people to maintain peace and not to react to these
ncidents.