A 15-year-old girl was killed in India after attempting to save her father during a vicious mob attack, sparking renewed concern over violence against Muslims in the Hindu-majority country.
Outrage erupted in India’s Southern state of Telangana after Aliya Begum, 15, was reported to have died from injuries she sustained when attempting to shield her father, Ismail Mohammed, from the attack.
The shocking incident occurred on February 11 in the Antharam village, Zaheerabad, located in the southern Sangareddy district of India.
Eyewitnesses allege that the violence started when her father was seen publicly urinating in an open field next to houses belonging to two Hindu men, Veera Reddy and Vijay Reddy.
Apparently furious, the two men gathered around forty others and began to attack Ismail with stones.
Witnessing this, Aliya allegedly hurried to protect her father as the situation escalated but she was also hit with stones, sustaining serious injury. She died on February 15 from her injuries.
Widespread criticism of the incident has come from community leaders who are demanding justice and government intervention.
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MLA Kausar Mohiuddin from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), a regional political party in the state, visited the bereaved family and conferred with the Superintendent of Police in Zaheerabad, He urged officials to act quickly.
“This is not just an attack on one family, it is an attack on an entire community,” he said, condemning the delayed response from the state’s law enforcement.
Police barred Amjadullah Khan Khalid, spokesman for the Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT), political rival of AIMIM, another regional party in the state, when he went to meet the family.
Speaking to the media, he denounced the way the matter was being handled by the authorities.
“We demand a judicial inquiry by a High Court judge. All those involved must be arrested. The family deserves compensation, a government job, and a house under the Indiramma Housing Scheme,” Khalid said.
The All India Milli Council’s legal team, Adv. Afsar Jahan, Adv. Sujaath, Imad Ali, and Mohd Zubair, have filed a police complaint.
“We will make sure the culprits face justice,” said Adv. Afsar Jahan. The team also urged Public Prosecutor Lateef ur Rahman to deny bail to the accused.
The incident has heightened the concerns about the security of Muslim households in the area. Villagers claim the act disrupted social harmony.
Muslim leaders have warned that failure to act swiftly could deepen these communal tensions.
Among others, police have registered a complaint against Veera Reddy, Vijay Reddy, though, a demand for arrest for all forty members has been raised by local Muslim community members only.
Aliya Begum’s tragic death has become a rallying cry for justice in the area amid deepening concern for the safety of Muslims in India.
Her family and supporters demand accountability, warning that impunity will only fuel further unrest.
