Muslim prisoner in India's Tihar jail branded with 'Om' symbol
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A Muslim man under trial in an Indian jail has complained that he was beaten and branded with an 'Om' symbol by prison officials inside the jail's premises, India Today reported on Friday.
According to India Today, the case came to light after the man's family approached a Karkardooma court with the complaint that their son's life was in danger in the Tihar jail.
When 34-year-old Shabbir was brought before magistrate Richa Parihar, she found that the 'Om' symbol had been engraved on his back. The man has been in Tihar since November 2017, India Today said.
It was reported that on April 12, Shabbir had raised a complaint with a superintendent of jail no 4, Rajesh Chauhan, to tell him that the induction stove in his barracks was not working properly.
In response to the complaint, the jail official allegedly started beating Shabbir. Chauhan later summoned Shabbir into his office, where he and some other jail officials beat the victim again, India Today said.
According to India Today, Chauhan then took a Om symbol cast in metal, heated it, and branded Shabbir's back with it.
Shabbir was then denied food for two days, and on April 14, Chauhan allegedly told Shabbir that he had "converted to Hinduism as he had 'fasted' during Navratri". The jail officials also berated him for his religion saying, "you Muslims have destroyed our country", India Today said.
According to India Today, when advocate Jagmohan met his client in jail on April 16, the burn injuries had healed slightly.
The case was heard by the court on April 17, when Shabbir was already scheduled to be brought to court. In the courtroom, the judge asked him to narrate his story, and then saw the branded symbol herself.
The judge ordered for Shabbir to be medically examined and immediately removed from "the direct or indirect supervision of jail superintendent Rajesh Chauhan".
The court also ordered an inquiry and ordered the relevant prison official to submit CCTV footage and take statements of other prisoners within 24 hours.
On April 18, no official from the Tihar authority appeared before the court; neither were the medical examination and inquiry reports presented
The judge has now repeated her orders and will hear the matter on Monday (April 22).
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On DawnNews
Comments (80) Closed
Apr 20, 2019 12:44pm
Sick nation....what a shame....
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Apr 20, 2019 12:59pm
True face of so called secular India.
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Apr 20, 2019 01:01pm
@Shib, Not sick nation. It is a great nation with freedom of press and human rights value.
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Apr 20, 2019 01:04pm
Who invited him to Tihar jail.
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Apr 20, 2019 01:11pm
@Shib, don't blame the entire nation, for act of few individuals.
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Apr 20, 2019 01:15pm
Fanatics and bigots are ruling over india.
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Apr 20, 2019 01:19pm
Such shameless act only happen in India.
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Apr 20, 2019 01:20pm
Any indian anything to say?
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Apr 20, 2019 01:20pm
Shining India. A true democracy.
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Apr 20, 2019 01:21pm
These are the people that have the gall to accuse Muslims of extremism and intolerance.
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Apr 20, 2019 01:22pm
is this secular india ?
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Apr 20, 2019 01:25pm
This is fake news and already exposed in India. It's Congress Party's propaganda.
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Apr 20, 2019 01:28pm
Is it a mark of nationalism or a secular nation?
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Apr 20, 2019 01:29pm
We should bring him to Pakistan
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Apr 20, 2019 01:29pm
Cruel act. He must be freed from jail.
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Apr 20, 2019 01:38pm
Nothing will happen.. justice is unreachable for poor and minorities in both India and Pakistan. No one can defend this statement if they real care about their fellow citizens.
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Apr 20, 2019 01:39pm
Such disgraceful incidents indicate true colours of a country, which is not secular and heading towards undemocratic principles. (Awam ki Awaz).
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Apr 20, 2019 01:41pm
Absolutely disgusting treatment, where are you people of Indian on humanity, condemning or protesting this. Shame.
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Apr 20, 2019 01:44pm
Shameful
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Apr 20, 2019 01:45pm
Bad. Chouhan will surely lose his job. But let both sides be heard before deciding the quantum of punishment.
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Apr 20, 2019 01:47pm
so this is indian secularism, really shameful
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Apr 20, 2019 01:47pm
@S.M.Shabbir , State is secular but all people are not
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Apr 20, 2019 01:48pm
Media propaganda during election. this is stunt by congress. when they don't have any narrative to sell, they do acts like this. Although i am a muslim, I can confirm this. few days ago, in my locality, congress people came and tried to spread a rumour of a muslim guy killed by hindus, later it was found that he died from accident. During election time, more news regarding muslims will come out.
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Apr 20, 2019 01:49pm
@Shib, "Sick nation....what a shame...."
Sick people who did it ,Nation is not sick
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Apr 20, 2019 01:54pm
@Priyanka, shameless India will be more correct. Proud of your so called true democracy ? Why don't you guys learn the simple values of truth, taking responsibility for your actions and learn to be decent instead of always trying to drown the truth by repeating lies and making noises.
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Apr 20, 2019 02:00pm
Shame on hindutwa
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Apr 20, 2019 02:09pm
Modi is fanning the flame and coals of India are starting to show their true colors
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Apr 20, 2019 02:12pm
Jails are full of criminals and extremists. Including India all third world Jails are sub-standard and less secure for inmates. If this is done by common citizens or officers then it is a grave offence but this done by convicted criminals already facing life sentences. However I strongly condemn this act and it is a shame for India, thanks Dawn for reporting this. I sincerely hope India will improve its secular credentials and live up to the modern world expectations.
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Apr 20, 2019 02:14pm
@Raja_Idrees, Too insignificant to reply.
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Apr 20, 2019 02:17pm
@Raja_Idrees, you mean the regular trolls on here.
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Apr 20, 2019 02:20pm
Well, the reaction to the unfortunate event reinforces my belief in the secular nature of my vast country. Sick people exist everywhere but it is the majority reaction which matters.
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Apr 20, 2019 02:20pm
@S.M.Shabbir ,
No.
"secular india" only on paper.
ground reality is evident!
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Apr 20, 2019 02:23pm
@Raja_Idrees, Yes. Nice.
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Apr 20, 2019 02:24pm
Shabbir was arrested in 2016 under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and Arms Act, Nabbir had been kept in the High Risk Ward of Jail.
Police inspector has denied allegations, such tactics are employed by hardened criminals. There is no point in converting a criminal.
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Apr 20, 2019 02:27pm
Condemn it... and the guilty must be punished....
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Apr 20, 2019 02:33pm
Looking forward to see some Indian comments, shining symbol of democracy
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Apr 20, 2019 02:39pm
Time to remember Quaid e Azam
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Apr 20, 2019 02:39pm
that is sick....
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Apr 20, 2019 02:42pm
@Raja_Idrees, Yes , I am an India and We are self correcting nation. Working democracy which keeps checks and balance on misuse of Power.Hope that helps.
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Apr 20, 2019 02:44pm
@Raja_Idrees, yes anyone who is involved in in such senseless and shameful act will be brought to justice. You will see for yourself how Indian systems work. We condemn such acts in strongest possible terms.
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Apr 20, 2019 02:52pm
It happens only in India.....so called biggest democracy......
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Apr 20, 2019 02:54pm
True Face of In-credible India.
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Apr 20, 2019 02:56pm
@Asad, "Shame on hindutwa"
What is Hindutva?
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Apr 20, 2019 02:56pm
Om
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Apr 20, 2019 02:56pm
OM is reality of the universe
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Apr 20, 2019 02:58pm
This is Modi’s India everyone. Take a good look at it.
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Apr 20, 2019 02:58pm
India has become a shame for earth.
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Apr 20, 2019 02:59pm
@Priyanka, True democracy devoid of basic human rights for inmates.....it’s not shining its shaming
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Apr 20, 2019 03:08pm
Its an utter disgrace to the nation. Rajesh Chauhan & his associates should immediately be show caused and booked with section 330 & 331 of the Indian Penal Code for custodial torture and abuse on prisoner. These 'nationalist' government officers seem to be more loyal to the RSS than to the Republic of India.
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Apr 20, 2019 03:15pm
Height of shamelessness, bigotry, biasness, racism, cunningness, eccentricity and wickedness, which could only be practiced openly by a government official in the biggest false, futile, fake, sham, shame and fraud democracy of the world called Republic of India.
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Apr 20, 2019 03:20pm
It's jail
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Apr 20, 2019 03:21pm
Modi effect
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Apr 20, 2019 03:34pm
Where are those Pakistan liberals who always sing love songs for India.
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Apr 20, 2019 03:48pm
India is fast self-imploding due to the increasing intolerance organised by the government-linked communal organisations.
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Apr 20, 2019 04:28pm
@Balakrishnan, typical Indian response. Nothing great at all.
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Apr 20, 2019 04:29pm
@Balakrishnan, Modi has destroyed the core values of India and turned into a state where people live in fear especially minorities.
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Apr 20, 2019 04:34pm
This is outrageous.....pakistan must raise it in UN.....
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Apr 20, 2019 04:35pm
Why is FM qurreshi silent now?
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Apr 20, 2019 04:58pm
@Dr Carla, Also please do read the comment of Zunaid, India here. He is also a Muslim from Bharat. He has something to tell too.
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Apr 20, 2019 05:07pm
@Nex,
i also suspect it is fake news. No Indian papers have mentioned it. photos can be morphed easily. The veracity of the news need to be verified.
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Apr 20, 2019 05:08pm
@Balakrishnan, You call this human rights example. Under Modi India has become a sick nation.
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Apr 20, 2019 05:12pm
@Priyanka, Is this example of a shining India? Shameful.
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Apr 20, 2019 05:23pm
@Dr Carla, Read the news again, it was done by jail officials, not convicts.
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Apr 20, 2019 06:03pm
Honorable court should set Shabir free till court makes final decision.
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Apr 20, 2019 06:16pm
@Balakrishnan, that is a sick nation and mind.
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Apr 20, 2019 06:18pm
Pakistan zindabad. Qaid e azam zindabad.. please value freedom and motherland.
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Apr 20, 2019 06:19pm
@Izhar, Pakistan liberals who always sing love songs for India.
Are there any?
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Apr 20, 2019 06:20pm
Incident heard by the supreme court within 2 days and jail superintendent barred to directly or indirectly supervise the prisoner, so fast decisions takes place only in India. Proud to be Indian.
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Apr 20, 2019 06:31pm
@Balakrishnan, you are very much mistaken. It is indeed a sick nation
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Apr 20, 2019 06:48pm
@zunaid, India, stop adopting fake identity
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Apr 20, 2019 06:48pm
Thank You Jinnah. Pakistanis will always be grateful to you.
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Apr 20, 2019 07:11pm
@Balakrishnan, No matter what, you are a sick nation .
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Apr 20, 2019 07:24pm
I am an Indian and I totally condemn this act of crazy person. Faith is a very personal choice. In through out the history, Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus have fought to keep their faith.
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Apr 20, 2019 07:33pm
Something fishy here. Especially because, one is a hardened criminal and it’s elections season. The enquire will bring out the truth.
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Apr 20, 2019 07:34pm
@Balakrishnan, - ".. It is a great nation with freedom of press and human rights value."
And those human right values are glowingly visible in the IoK.
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Apr 20, 2019 07:41pm
Extremism is a complicated issue which knows no boundaries, but without addressing how it appeals to ignorant and illiterates, we may be missining an important motivational source & a way to eradicate it from our midst. In true retrospective, it is not mere extremism that makes individuals or group of people at the fringes of false belief & others too, to be duped by concocted religious doctrines based upon mystics or pure lies, but also political support to become extremists.
Accordingly, it is painful to see such a shameful display of extremism against minority Muslims, happening in a supposedly secular and so-called biggest democracy. This event following an unfortunate death of a Pakistani fisherman in an Indian jail, should be a sign of alarm for India & addressed before it is out of control.
The Indian court taking a timely notice, must deal with perpetrators of the crime sternly by making them accountable for their disgusting acts, in order to deter others from repeating it.
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Apr 20, 2019 08:18pm
@Amjad Durrani Engineer USA. , Well said brother.
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Apr 20, 2019 08:58pm
India, you are on a free fall as far as humanity is concerned.
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Apr 21, 2019 03:01am
These are criminals it’s there plan of getting out of jail. These criminals should have been shot dead at the time of crime instead of locking them up. Burden on the tax payers.
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Apr 21, 2019 06:10am
@RAja Raman, this is exactly what we say in.our case but you just don't listen
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