Snobar, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: Salman Vohra, 23, had planned a bike ride with his one-month-pregnant wife on a quiet Sunday. However, a sudden change of plans led him to a cricket match instead, a decision that would tragically cost him his life. On June 22, in Anand, Gujarat, known for its milk production, Vohra’s distinctive attire — a white kurta pajama and Muslim cap — drew unwanted attention from local Thakur cricket players. Tensions mounted as the game progressed, fueled by bruised egos and a minor parking dispute.
Vohra’s friend Suhail, another Muslim, had outperformed the local players the previous day, adding fuel to the brewing confrontation. When Suhail became the target of aggression, Salman intervened, hoping to defuse the situation. Yet, his Muslim identity made him an easy target for the mob’s anger.
Violence erupted swiftly. Vohra’s white kurta soon bore the stains of blood as cricket bats and knives were wielded against him. Surrounded by bystanders who watched without intervention, he fell victim to a brutal lynching captured in horrifying videos.
Salman’s uncle, Yasin, a former Congress and independent Paarshad, mourned the injustice. “Once they realized he was Muslim, they attacked him mercilessly,” Yasin recounted, his voice heavy with grief. “They stabbed him grievously, reaching his kidney. Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.”
Initially, the police registered an FIR against five suspects, later increasing the count to eleven. Ten have been arrested, but the prime suspect, MLA Govind Parmar’s nephew, remains at large. Yasin expressed frustration over political interference but commended the police’s efforts in pursuing justice.
“The police are under pressure from both sides,” Yasin explained. “We demand justice for Salman and will protest if necessary. Our fight is not political; it is for justice.”
Days before Salman’s tragic death, another Muslim man named Fareed was brutally lynched in Aligarh on June 18. Fareed, the sole caretaker of his paralyzed mother, was accused of theft and beaten to death by a mob of fifteen men. His sister, Zakia Wali, questioned the brutality: “If he was a thief, why not hand him over to the police? Why did they resort to such violence?”
Zakia described Fareed as a devout and caring son, now sorely missed as the family fears for their safety while his killers remain free.
These incidents highlight a disturbing trend of communal violence and the failure of leadership to address it. Supreme Court advocate Sulaiman Mohammad Khan criticized the political silence, urging for stringent anti-lynching legislation and accountability for officials who neglect their duty.
“Incidents like Salman and Fareed’s killings cannot be normalized,” Khan emphasized. “We need action, not just rhetoric, to protect vulnerable communities and uphold justice.”
As the nation grapples with these tragedies, advocates like Khan press for legislative reform and swift justice to prevent further atrocities and ensure all citizens live free from fear and violence.
