Nadine Osman
A 22 year old Muslim man, Salman Mushtaq, was brutally beaten to death on Diwali night in Delhi’s Nand Nagri area after a clash over filming short videos on a flyover, police said. Salman succumbed to his injuries two days later at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital (GTB).
The altercation reportedly began when Salman and friends confronted a group of men who were also filming reels on the Nand Nagri flyover near the Bhopura toll plaza on October 24. According to his friend and complainant, 26 year old Sohail Mohammad, a scuffle broke out between the two groups over space.
Salman allegedly took the key of a two wheeler used by one of the men to prevent him from fleeing, which escalated the situation. The group then reportedly punched and kicked Salman and repeatedly slammed his head against the flyover railing, leaving him critically injured.
Sohail said, “Salman scolded them, and they started abusing us. He then took away their bike keys to stop them from fleeing. This angered the men, who punched and kicked Salman. They tried to push him off the flyover and repeatedly smashed his head against the railing until he collapsed.” Salman was first taken to a private hospital before being shifted to GTB Hospital, where he died two days later.
Salman’s brother, Anan Mushtaq, told reporters, “My brother sells car parts and is involved in scrap dealing. He had stepped out after Diwali to meet friends. They often make short videos. I did not know this would happen. He was only trying to stop the men from shooting a reel. Why did they kill him?”
The Delhi Police said they lodged a case under Section 110 of the BNS (attempt to commit culpable homicide) immediately after the attack. DCP (Northeast) Ashish Mishra confirmed that teams have been deployed to trace and apprehend the suspects, who are also believed to reside nearby, and that the post mortem report is awaited.
The attack has left the local Muslim community shaken, with residents describing the incident as part of a wider climate of fear and insecurity.
Rights groups have documented an increase in mob violence targeting Muslims in Delhi and across India, often arising from minor disputes or confrontations.
For Salman’s family, what should have been a festive evening has become a lasting tragedy. His mother, clutching his photograph, said, “He only wanted to enjoy Diwali like others.”
Feature photo: Salman Mushtaq, 22, was beaten to death in Delhi’s Nand Nagri area on Diwali. (Credit: Wikimedia)
