Ghaziabad: On Friday (August 9), a mob of Hindu Raksha Dal (HRD) vigilantes, led by their leader Bhupender Tomar alias Pinky Chaudhary, attacked shanties in Ghaziabad’s Kavi Nagar area near the Guldhar railway station, claiming that the residents, who were Muslims, were illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas involved in criminal activities.
In
of the attack, first circulated on the group’s own social media accounts, the vigilantes can be seen vandalising tents, setting belongings of the residents ablaze, and assaulting Muslims with lathis while constantly hurling religious slurs. This is the second such attack by the group this week.
The vandals did not just burn the slum but the clothes and belongings of Muslims they picked out, after confirming their identity. These attacks have taken place even as social media has seen calls for retaliation for attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. Notable amongst them are BJP MLA Nitish Rane and BJP MP from Mandi, Kangana Ranaut.