Madrasa student attacked, forced to drink alcohol on Indian train
Muslim student says group targeted his beard and religious clothing before beating him and trying to throw him from moving train in Uttar Pradesh
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A Muslim seminary student was allegedly subjected to a violent religiously targeted assault aboard a moving train in northern India, with a group of men grabbing his beard, abusing his Muslim identity and attempting to force alcohol into his mouth before trying to throw him from the carriage.
Mohammad Muntazir, a student at Darul Uloom Deoband, one of India’s most prominent Islamic seminaries, was traveling from Meerut toward Deoband in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday evening when he encountered a group of around 10 to 12 men drinking alcohol inside the passenger train, according to a complaint filed with police.
Muntazir said the men began targeting him between Daurala and Sakauti railway stations after apparently identifying him as Muslim from his beard and traditional religious clothing.
The group allegedly grabbed his beard and shouted anti-Muslim slurs before attempting to make him consume alcohol — an act particularly humiliating for a visibly religious Muslim because drinking alcohol is prohibited in Islam.
“They tried to forcibly make me drink alcohol. When I resisted, they thrashed me,” Muntazir said in his complaint.
The violence allegedly escalated when Muntazir attempted to escape into another carriage. He said the attackers prevented him from leaving, took his bag and dragged him toward a window, where two of them attempted to throw him from the moving train.
His cries for help eventually drew the attention of other passengers, who intervened and rescued him. The alleged attackers got off at Sakauti station after threatening him, while Muntazir disembarked at Khatauli and approached railway and local police.
Police Inspector Dinesh Baghel said investigators had received Muntazir’s complaint and were examining surveillance footage from Sakauti and Khatauli railway stations in an effort to identify the attackers.
No arrests had been reported, while police were preparing charges covering assault, wrongful confinement, theft and criminal intimidation. Authorities said they were still investigating the identities and motive of those involved.
The case has also raised questions over security aboard local trains in the region. Muntazir said there were no Government Railway Police or Railway Protection Force personnel in his carriage despite the evening train being crowded, allowing the group to allegedly consume alcohol openly before attacking him.
Students from Darul Uloom Deoband have previously reported harassment while traveling in religious clothing, prompting the seminary to advise them to exercise caution on train journeys.
The alleged assault comes amid broader concerns over anti-Muslim violence and harassment in India, where visibly Muslim men have repeatedly faced attacks over their religious identity, clothing and practices.
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