Sumedha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Gurugram, August 2

While the recent tension over the ‘namaz’ row is yet to ebb, a new controversy has erupted in Gurugram.

Three men allegedly went ahead and forcibly shaved off the beard of a local Muslim man following an altercation over their turn at a local barber shop.

The victim, Zaffrudin, from Mewat, works at an eating joint at IFFCO Chowk.

He had reportedly gone to buy vegetables in Khandsa area and decided to get a hair cut.

“I stood waiting but they came and tried to get their haircut out of turn. When I resisted, they started calling me a Pakistani and hurled religious abuses. I remained calm but then they asked me to shave off my beard to become human.

“I politely told them that it was forbidden in my religion and how can I do it. They laughed and said we will show you how and got my beard shaved forcibly pinning me to barber’s chair while he shaved it. I was traumatised and rushed back home,” said Jaffrudin.

He alleged the accused even video-graphed the entire shaving and threatened to make it viral.

The incident lead to tension in Mewat and in morning several local and religious leaders approached police and an FIR was registered and the three accused, Gaurav, Nitin and barber Eklash, were nabbed.

The police, meanwhile, issued an appeal to people to not communalist the issue.

“It’s a sensitive issue but understand that the accused barber himself is a Muslim. Please do not communalise it or flare up the sentiments. We have nabbed the accused and they will be dealt with sternly,” said DCP Crime

Sumit Kuhar.

Meanwhile, police have been deployed in Khandsa village to maintain peace and owing to some unconfirmed reports of disruption of ‘namaz’ prayers in city tomorrow security at sites has been beefed up.