A 21-year-old motorist, caught in Hyderabad for not wearing a helmet and carrying his driving license, was allegedly assaulted by a home guard on traffic duty. The victim has also alleged that policemen of the Kacheguda traffic police station had further assaulted him and abused him with Islamophobic statements.

Mohammed Shahid, a 21-year-old resident of Santosh Nagar, was on his way to Kacheguda railway station when Sudheer – a home guard on traffic duty – tried to stop him for not wearing a helmet. Shahid told a local media channel that he attempted to escape Sudheer by accelerating his vehicle. However, when the home guard grabbed Shahid by the collar of his shirt, the vehicle fell down and injured Sudheer in the process.

Following this, Shahid alleged, the home guard dragged him to the traffic police station and assaulted him there. He also alleged that other policemen also assaulted him.

“Each time a policeman would walk in, they would ask me my name and would continue to hit me. After realising that I’m a Muslim, they called me names and accused my entire community of being criminals,” Shahid was quoted as saying.

In support of his claims, Shahid showed bruises that he had suffered on his back and torso.

However, Kacheguda Station House Officer, V Chandra Kumar, told TNM that Shahid had not been assaulted and dismissed allegations of him being abused with Islamophobic slurs.

He countered Shahid’s claim by saying that the motorist had hit the home guard on purpose, and had injured himself in the process.

Both Shahid and Sudheer had filed cases against each other, he added. “A case under Section 337 (causing hurt by endangering life) and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) was booked on Shahid, and a case under 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) was filed on the home guard,” he said.