A biryani seller was allegedly assaulted by a group of men in Lucknow’s Itaunja area on Sunday morning after they accused him of carrying banned meat, police said. Three people have been booked in connection with the incident, they added.
“The incident occurred around 8:30 am when Rizwan of Kasai Mohalla in Mahona was carrying meat for his stall,” read a police statement. Rizwan runs a biryani stall near Badi Masjid in Mahona on the outskirts of Lucknow on Sundays and Thursdays, police said.
Later in the afternoon, a video of the incident went viral on social media, prompting police action. In the viral undated video, a man could purportedly be seen beaten up.
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According to the police statement, Rana Yadav, Shanu and Suraj allegedly stopped Rizwan, accused him of carrying prohibited meat, assaulted him and threatened to kill him.
Based on Rizwan’s complaint, an FIR was registered at Itaunja police station under Sections 351(1), 352, 115(2), 117(1) and 110 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,” the Lucknow police statement said.
{{/usCountry}}Based on Rizwan’s complaint, an FIR was registered at Itaunja police station under Sections 351(1), 352, 115(2), 117(1) and 110 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,” the Lucknow police statement said.
{{/usCountry}}While speaking to media persons in a video, Rizwan alleged that 10–12 men stopped him while he was riding his bike. “They started abusing and asked me to park my bike. Then they started beating me. I have no enmity with them,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, police seized the meat and sent a report to the veterinary officer. Samples have been collected, and further legal action is underway, police said.