According to an India Today report, the family of the victim has blamed Hindu Yuva Vahini – a right-wing group founded by Yogi Adityanath in 2002 – for the attack. The UP chief minister has distanced himself from the organisation now. 

The victim identified as Ghulam Mohammad, a resident of Sohi village under the Pahasu Police Station in Bulandshahr, was thrashed after his distant relative eloped with a Hindu girl a few days ago. 

Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Arvind Kumar Mishra said a 19-year-old man named Yusuf of Sohi had allegedly kidnapped an 18-year-old Hindu girl, a resident of village Fazalpur, also in the Pahasu area, on April 27.

He said the activists saw Ghulam, who was distantly related to Yusuf, in a mango orchard, dragged him to a secluded spot and beat him to death.

The ADM said the men wanted to know about the whereabouts of Yusuf.

SP (City) Man Singh Chauhan said an FIR had been lodged against the “unidentified activists”.

(Feature image source: Twitter/ PTI)