LUCKNOW:

residents of Salehnagar village in

have come out in support of their Muslim neighbours, dubbing the sedition case against 60 minority community youths as fabricated and "an attempt by right-wing groups" to drive a wedge between two communities living peacefully in the area for decades.

The show of solidarity has been spurred by the tragic death of Zakir Ali (55) whose 20-year-old son Akram is among the accused. Ali, allegedly humiliated by policemen during the raid following Tuesday's clash, succumbed to cardiac arrest in the small hours of Friday.

Saurabh Kashyap, a friend of Akram, said they were childhood buddies. "We grew

together. None of us ever made any derogatory remark against each other's religion. All the accused, including Akram, have been framed. I don't believe anyone from here will ever raise pro-Pakistan slogans," he said.

Ajay Singh (48), a neighbour of Ali, underscored that Hindus and Muslims had peacefully coexisted in Salehnagar for generations. "There have been fights, like it happens among youngsters everywhere, but these have always been resolved amicably," Singh said. "An ego clash between youths of Salehnagar and adjoining Ruchi Khand is being given communal colour by right-wing outsiders," he added.

Ankur Lodhi, who is 18, echoed that right-wing people "are trying to drive a wedge between Hindu and Muslim brothers. Fifty-year-old Dukhi Rawat couldn't agree more. "Muslims and Hindus in Salehnagar have lived like family. They have been together in joy and sorrow. Zakir was a friend of mine. His death has left us all shocked and deeply saddened."

Student Raman Soni, 22, said he had so long only heard about people being framed. "Now, I know how it feels. Many of my Muslim friends are so terrified by the sedition charge itself that they are not going to police to explain their side of the story," he said.