Asansol: Imam Maulana Imdadul Rashidi, a role model to many, for maintaining peace and sending the right message did not want a retaliation after he lost his 16-year-old son. Rashidi has said he would not name any suspect as he did not want an innocent to get into trouble.
Several people had got injured and Sibtullah Rashidi was killed in clashes that erupted in various parts of West Bengal on March 25 during Ram Navami celebrations. The Imam after burying his son at religious congregation appealed Muslims for peace and harmony by urging them not to retaliate.
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“I did not witness my son’s murder, he disappeared after the riots broke out. I have decided not to name anyone as a suspect in my son’s murder. I can’t let any innocent person land in trouble. Let the police investigate who is guilty,” Rashidi told Hindustan Times.
A local resident had said, soon after Sibtullah’s dead body was recovered, some youths were furious “but we calmed them down and not a single shop, temple and house of Hindu residents was attacked”. Many of the Muslims guarded the properties belonging to a handful of Hindu families living in the locality.
Sibtullah, who appeared for his Class X board exams this year was allegedly kidnapped and beaten to death by Hindutva goons.