4 arrested in Indore for assaulting bangle seller; Hindu outfit stages protest

The police have so far arrested four persons for allegedly assaulting a bangle seller for apparently using a 'fake' name while selling his goods to women in Govind Nagar of Indore in Madhya Pradesh, an official said on Tuesday.

A protest was held earlier in the day under the banner of a Hindu outfit in front of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) office against the "rise in anti-national incidents" in Indore. 

The arrested persons were part of a mob that thrashed 25-year-old Taslim Ali on Sunday after asking his name, he said.

The arrested persons are identified as Rakesh Pawar (38), Vikas Malviya (27), Rajkumar Bhatnagar (37) and Vivek Vyas (35), Banganga police station in-charge Rajendra Soni said.

He said the police are scanning video footage to identify and nab other persons involved in the attack.

The police are also investigating the charges of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and forgery registered against Ali.

Ali was booked under the POCSO Act for allegedly touching a 13-year-old girl inappropriately in Indore city, officials had said on Monday.

In the melee, Ali, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, left behind a carry bag in which two Aadhaar cards were found, the officials had said.

Based on the girl's complaint, a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and IPC sections 420 (cheating) and 471 (using fake documents as real ones), among others, was registered against Ali.

Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra had said the controversy started when this man described himself as a Hindu to sell bangles to women during the holy month of saavan, while he belongs to another community.

A protest was organised on Tuesday morning under the banner of Hindu Jagran Manch at Regal Square in front of the deputy inspector general’s office in Indore in which many people participated. A heavy police force was deployed in the area.

Eyewitnesses said protestors waved saffron flags and raised slogans such as 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', 'Hindustan mein rehna hoga, Vande Matram kahna hoga', 'Jai-Jai Siya Ram' and 'Pakistan Murdabad'.

The protestors handed over a memorandum alleging that anti-national incidents and incidents against a particular community are taking place regularly. Despite bringing these incidents to the notice of the police, no firm action is being taken under the pressure from a particular group, they alleged.

The memorandum mentioned pelting of stones during an Independence Day function, eve-teasing of minor girls and incidents of "luring young girls by men by hiding their true identity".

Deputy Inspector General Manish Kapooria, however, said appropriate action has been taken in all such cases. He said the cooperation of people is needed in maintaining communal harmony in the city.

"The police will not allow any particular community to disrupt the peace in Indore," he said.