NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Wednesday he was“pained” by the killing last week of a Muslim man who was tortured andforced to chant Hindu slogans, the latest example of rising communalviolence in the secular country.
Modi has faced criticism for not speaking strongly enough against Hinduvigilantes targeting Muslims and other minorities, but called Wednesday forstrong action against those guilty of the brutal attack.
“The lynching in Jharkhand has pained me. Everyone… is grieved at the lossof life of the youth, and the guilty should be given harsh punishment,” hesaid in the upper house of parliament.
Police in Jharkhand have so far arrested 11 men in connection with theattack — including the main accused, who was seen thrashing Tabrez Ansariin a video that went viral on social media.
[image: Tabrez-Ansari]
Ansari, 24, had been accused by villagers of burglary. He was tied to apole and beaten for up to 12 hours before police first detained him.
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They took him to hospital, where he died Saturday.
Indian opposition parties accuse Modi of not doing enough to stop communalattacks that have increased since his nationalist Hindu Bharatiya JanataParty took power in 2014.
The party was re-elected with a resounding majority last month. -APP/AFP
