Ranchi: Communal elements made an attack on Imam of a masjid in a village in Ranchi. Maulana Azhar-ul-Islam and Maulana Imran were returning from Masjid after offering ‘Taraweeh’ prayer. Some miscreants stopped them and insisted to say ‘Jai Sri Ram’ and abused them. When both refused to raise this slogan, Maulana Azhar-ul-Islam was attacked with hockey stick and other weapons. Meanwhile, Maulana Imran managed to escape from the spot.

Maulana Azhar-ul-Islam was beaten severely. He was rushed to the hospital but seeing his serious condition, he was sent to another hospital. His condition is very serious.

There were rumours spreading continuously for the past two days that communal riots would occur. The procession taken out by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) aggravated the situation. They went to Muslim concentration areas and shouted slogans.

—Siasat News