In a tragic case of road rage in Latur, Maharashtra, a three-year-old girl and her 24-year-old mother lost their lives on September 29 when five Hindu men in a car allegedly chased down and ran over their family’s motorcycle after a driving dispute. The incident, reported by The Indian Express, took a communal turn when the attackers reportedly used religious slurs, saying “Muslims need to be taught a lesson,” before hitting them.
The victims, Sadique Shaikh (35), his wife Iqra, their six-year-old son Ahad, and their daughter Nadia, were returning home to Latur from a visit to Shaikh's sister in Ausa, about 20 kilometers away. Sadique Shaikh and his son survived the attack with injuries, while Iqra and Nadia tragically lost their lives.
According to the FIR, the incident occurred around 8 p.m. when a car suddenly swerved in front of their motorcycle on the outskirts of Ausa. Shaikh confronted the occupants of the car, whom he suspected to be intoxicated. After a brief argument, the family continued on their way, but the car followed them for five kilometers before ramming their motorcycle near Budhada village.
Initially believed to be an accident, Shaikh later told his brother after regaining consciousness that they were targeted due to their religion. He recounted that his wife, who was wearing a burqa, became the subject of religious slurs by the men in the car. Despite his attempts to avoid further conflict by moving away, the men pursued them and intentionally crashed into their bike.
Following legal intervention, the Latur Police filed a murder case against the five accused. Latur SP Somay Mundhe confirmed, “We have charged the five men with murder. It currently appears to be a case of road rage.”
This incident has intensified concerns over the rising number of hate crimes targeting minorities in India, particularly under the pro-Hindutva BJP government. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi raised alarms about this growing trend during his recent visit to the U.S. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has also called on the U.S. State Department to designate India as a "country of particular concern" for its ongoing violations of religious freedom.
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