India police assault muezzin during dawn prayer
CCTV shows officer attacking mosque official after morning adhan, triggering national concern over policing bias against Muslims
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A muezzin in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh was assaulted and abused by police moments after delivering the dawn call to prayer, in an incident that has intensified concerns over rising Islamophobia and policing bias in the state.
According to Maktoob Media, CCTV footage from Medina Masjid in Muzaffarnagar’s Sarwat area shows Sub-Inspector Vinod Chaudhary pushing and striking the muezzin, Muhammad Irfan, immediately after the fajr adhan on Wednesday.
The video has sparked widespread anger among Muslim organizations and renewed scrutiny of how routine religious practices are treated by law enforcement.
Irfan, who delivers the adhan at the neighborhood mosque, said the officer confronted him without warning as he stepped outside to place the donation box. “He accused me of reciting the adhan illegally even though we have written permission from the administration,” he told the outlet. Irfan said he attempted to show the approval letter, but the officer “didn’t listen and continued thrashing me.”
The footage shows Chaudhary hitting Irfan before dragging him away with several constables. Irfan said he was taken to the police station, where the officer allegedly used explicit Islamophobic slurs and told him, “If you like giving the adhan so much, go to Pakistan.”
He remained in custody for several hours until local residents arrived and demanded his release. Community members say the episode reflects a broader climate in Uttar Pradesh, where even legally compliant Muslim religious practices are increasingly viewed as provocations.
Muslim organizations visited the mosque on Wednesday, and a delegation from Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind later filed a written complaint with the Senior Superintendent of Police, demanding suspension of the officer involved and immediate departmental action.
Local legal practitioner Advocate Javed called the assault a violation of constitutional protections. He said preventing a citizen from practising their faith “is unlawful and discriminatory,” adding that the officer should face criminal charges for assault and for detaining Irfan without cause.
The incident has reignited debate over the treatment of minorities under Uttar Pradesh’s policing system, with rights groups warning that unchecked abuses deepen mistrust and risk normalizing hostility toward Muslim communities.
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