A Hindu man, Harish Sharma, was assaulted and forcibly made to remove the tilak from his forehead by a Muslim man outside the Deva Sharif Dargah in Barabanki on Thursday. The incident occurred while Sharma had accompanied his neighbour, Ayesha Bano, to offer a ceremonial chadar at the shrine.
According to CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts, Sharma stood outside the dargah eating snacks when a Muslim shopkeeper, identified as Javed Warsi, called out to him, “Oyee Pandit”, slapped him, grabbed him by the neck, and poured water over his head to remove the tilak. Sharma was subjected to abusive language and physical violence during the altercation.
Ayesha Bano confirmed Sharma’s account, stating that he was assaulted while accompanying her to the shrine. The incident attracted immediate public attention after the video went viral on social media.
The FlR has been registered
Police authorities confirmed that a First Information Report under the relevant sections had been filed, and that the shopkeeper had been taken into custody for questioning.
Senior Sub-Inspector Dharmendra Pratap Singh stated that the footage and Sharma’s complaint were under investigation, and that strict legal action would be taken against anyone found guilty.
Saad Mahmood Warsi, manager of the Deva Sharif Dargah Trust, condemned the incident, emphasising that the shrine had historically been a symbol of communal harmony and that any act of discrimination or violence was unacceptable.
At the time of reporting, the police continued to review all available CCTV footage and witness statements to ensure appropriate legal action was taken.
The case prompted discussions on communal sensitivity in the region and highlighted the need to maintain peace around religious sites.