Jaipur: In a disturbing incident of alleged hate crime, a man identified as Anshul Dadhich was arrested after a video surfaced on social media showing him assaulting a Muslim vegetable vendor, Shahroz, in Jaipur’s Hawamahal Assembly constituency. The incident reportedly took place on Saturday under the Brahmpuri police station limits.
The viral video shows Dadhich, appearing fueled by extremist views, grabbing Shahroz by the collar and slapping him multiple times while verbally abusing him. A woman off-camera can be heard questioning Dadhich, asking, “Why are you beating him?” to which he replies, “Mulla hai, Bangladeshi.”
As the assault continues, Shahroz is seen pleading for mercy, asserting his nationality by saying, “I am Indian.” In response, Dadhich demands proof of citizenship, asking him to “pull down his pants” to verify his identity. Onlookers in the video can be heard asking for Shahroz’s identity card, but none intervened to stop the attack.
Following widespread outrage and social media backlash, the police took cognizance of the incident and apprehended Dadhich. He later apologized for his actions, attributing the assault to being “sleep-deprived” at the time.
However, many netizens expressed frustration, accusing the police of not taking stricter legal action against Dadhich. Photos surfaced online showing him with BJP MLA Swami Balmukund Acharya, a politician known for his controversial speeches and for allegedly inciting communal tensions. This connection fueled further public anger, with many accusing political leaders of fostering an environment of hate.
“These goons only act boldly in mobs, especially against defenseless vendors, beggars, or physically disabled people. While Anshul has been arrested, don’t expect strict action from the police. He has close ties with BJP MLA @BMacharyaBJP, and reportedly acted on the MLA’s orders,” a social media user commented.
Another user shared the photo of Dadhich and Acharya together, writing, “Look, people have given proof… see the picture of both terrorists together.”
All India Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also condemned the incident, accusing the BJP of encouraging communal hatred for political gains. In a post on X, she wrote, “This is what you get when you vote in a BJP state government. Beware, Haryana, beware. Make sure the ideology that produces these sick criminals finds no place in your state.”
