Gyanvapi mosque row: Muslim Rashtriya Manch convener assaulted for “Kashi is city of Bhole Baba” statement

Varanasi: The district convener of Muslim Rashtriya Manch was attacked allegedly for speaking over the Gyanvapi Mosque issue, police said here.

According to reports, Afsar said Kashi is the city of Bhole Baba (Shiva), and the Indian Muslims have no relation with Babar, Ghazni, Gori and Aurangzeb.

Police sources said that Afsar Baba, the district convener of Muslim Rashtriya Manch, which has been constituted after taking inspiration from the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) was attacked by four persons on Thursday morning while he was standing at a kiosk.

Police sources said that the accused Nasim, who followed Afsar to the kiosk, threatened him for speaking on the Gyanvapi mosque case. "Nasim later called his three associates and attacked Afsar in Lallapura area," they said.

Afsar, who sustained head and abdominal injuries, was also threatened with dire consequences, police sources said.

Police said that an FIR has been lodged against four persons and two of them have been arrested. "The case is being investigated further," it said. (Inputs from UNI)