In yet another incident of mob attack on suspicion of a child lifting four Sadhus from Mathura en route to Pandharpur were brutally assaulted in Maharashtra’s Sangli district.
A video from the sight has gone viral in which people can be seen checking the Aadhar Card of one of the Sadhu seating on the front seat of the SUV in which they were traveling.
The agitated mob in suspicion that the four might be child lifters dragged the Sadhu out from their car by his leg. Sadhu’s pleading at the site fell on deaf ears as the mob thrashed them with belts and batons.
As per the news agency PTI, the Sadhus asked a boy for directions on their way, which led to residents suspecting that they might be the child lifter as many other incidents have happened in past.
The incident happened when the victims resumed their journey after taking a halt at a temple in Lavana village. Upon investigation, the police found that the Sadhu were members of an Akhada in Uttar Pradesh and arrested six people in the matter.
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महाराष्ट्र के सांगली में 4 साधुओं को बच्चा चोरी के शक में बेरहमी से पिटाई. चारों साधु उत्तर प्रदेश के मथुरा के रहने वाले हैं।
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) September 14, 2022
After UP, Four sadhus beaten up in Sangli, Maharashtra on suspicion of child kidnapping.
Beware! *Stop forwarding videos of child kidnapping rumours* pic.twitter.com/OMBwPnISL4
As soon as the police reached the spot they took the victims to a hospital nearby. Sangli SP, Dixit Gedam said, the sadhus opted not to file a complaint against people in the matter as they had to visit a temple.
However, the police have taken a suo moto cognizance in the matter and have launched an investigation against those involved and have arrested six people as well.
Maharashtra BJP legislator Ram Kadam condemned the incident and said there is no space for tolerating any behavior in the state against Sadhus, ensuring of strict action against those involved.
Ram Kadam made reference to the 2020 Palghar incident which killed Sadhus and took a jibe at the Uddhav Thackeray government for not taking any action against those involved.
The embattled Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena called the incident "unfortunate" and sought to know how many BJP leaders will visit Sangli.
Terming the incident as an assault and an attempt to murder the sadhus, spokesperson Anand Dube said the government must clarify if it is with the Hindus or stop pretending that they are "Hinduvadi".