Four held for assault on Kashmiri family

The matter came to light after a video clip, showing some local residents assaulting the Kashmiri family residing in the area over feeding of dogs, went viral.

Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik on Saturday informed Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba that the thrashing of the Kashmiri family had nothing to do with their origin, claimed an official.

On Thursday night, five members of a Kashmiri family, including four women, were surrounded and beaten by a mob of 20-30 people. A police case was registered following a complaint by one of the women, who alleged that she was abused and was assaulted. An FIR, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, was registered at Sunlight Colony police station.

A Delhi Police official on Saturday said the four people arrested people include a security guard and three local residents. The action was based on the footage collected from CCTV camera, he added.

"We had earlier complained about these people (the accused) over encroachment in the area. Since then, they kept an eye on us and were seeking a pretext to attack us. We were brutally assaulted by sticks by a group of 20 to 30 people," said one of the female victims.

The complainants alleged they were targeted because they are from Kashmir, adding that the attackers also called them names.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday spoke to her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal over the issue.

She urged Kejriwal to ensure the safety and security of Kashmiris living and working in Delhi.

Earlier, Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had asked Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to get the matter investigated urgently and bring the guilty to book.

"Kashmiris are blamed for feeling alienated & acting on those feelings but what do you expect when they see Kashmiris treated like this in the national capital." he tweeted on Friday.