The incident occurred around 9.30pm on Monday(Representative image)
CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: A 22-year-old imam was allegedly assaulted, abused and threatened in a Jalna village after a local resident questioned his nationality, and reportedly dismissed his identity documents as fake, police said on Tuesday. Police have registered an FIR against the accused under BNS sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing simple physical hurt), 352 (intentional insult aimed at provoking breach of peace) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation). Ambad police station inspector Santosh Ghodke confirmed action against the suspect.
“Following the registration of an FIR against the suspect, Pravin Gaikwad, we detained him and produced him before the additional superintendent of police, who has initiated preventive action against him,” Ghodke said. Citing the complaint, police said the accused allegedly stopped the imam and demanded to know whether he was a “jihadi” or a “Bangladeshi”, telling him that he did not belong in the village. When Baig said that he was an Indian citizen, the accused allegedly slapped and pushed him, police said.
The incident, captured on CCTV, took place in Rani Unchegaon village and has sparked concern in the area. The imam later approached the Ambad police station and underwent a medical examination at govt hospital in Ambad.
Hearing the commotion, local residents went to the mosque and intervened, separating the two men before the situation worsened.