A 17-year-old Muslim student has died after being brutally beaten by three Hindu men in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, in what his family claim was a targeted attack.
Mohammad Arish, a year 12 student at Maharshi Vidya Mandir School, was returning home on July 23 when he was ambushed near Kashiram Colony in Fatehpur district. He succumbed to his injuries the following day while receiving treatment in Kanpur.
Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) at Kotwali Police Station and confirmed the arrest of two suspects while a third suspect remains on the run.
According to the victim’s family, the attackers – identified as Harshwardhan Pandey, Deepak Savita and Bharat Sarkar – were lying in wait with iron rods and wooden sticks.
“As soon as my grandson reached near Kashiram Colony, they started abusing him and hit him repeatedly. He fainted on the spot. Local people called an ambulance. He vomited blood due to the injuries,” said Ruab Ahmed, Arish’s grandfather.
The teenager was initially taken to Sadar Hospital in Fatehpur but was later transferred to a hospital in Kanpur due to the severity of his condition. Despite efforts to save him, Arish died on July 24.
The victim’s family members claim the attack stemmed from an earlier altercation between Arish and one of the accused. “About two months ago, Harshwardhan, who is associated with a right-wing group, had an argument with Arish. He left the school earlier this year but continued to threaten him,” a relative told 5Pillars.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
While police have not officially confirmed any ideological or communal motivation, the family insists the attack was premeditated and driven by hostility towards Arish because he was Muslim.
“This is not just about our child. We don’t want any other family to suffer like us,” said Ahmed.
Police say they are investigating all angles. “Two of the accused have been arrested. One is absconding. We are conducting raids to catch him,” a senior officer stated.
The incident has sparked concern among local Muslim residents who say they feel increasingly unsafe amid rising cases of targeted violence.
Uttar Pradesh, which is governed by the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has witnessed multiple incidents of mob violence on Muslims in recent years.
Human rights groups have repeatedly accused authorities of failing to protect minorities and enabling a culture of impunity.
