Muslim cab driver beaten in Thane, forced to chant 'Jai Shri Ram'

A Muslim cab driver in Thane has alleged that he was beaten up by three drunk men who threatened him with dire consequences if he refused to say 'jai Shri Ram'. The three men have been arrested by police.

The incident happened around 3 am in Diva on Monday. The driver, 25-year-old Faisal Usman Khan, said his car had broken down in the middle of the road after he had picked some passengers up. He said three men on a bike started thumping his windows asking why he was parked on the middle of the road, reported The Indian Express.

When the three drunk men found out that he was Muslim, they dragged him out of the car and hit him. They then told him that they would let him go if he chanted 'jai Shri Ram'. When one of the passengers called the police, the three men snatched Khan's mobile phone and fled the spot.

Khan approached the police to file a complaint, and gave them the registration number of the motorcycle the three assailants were travelling on. Police tracked down and arrested the three men, identified as Jaideep Mundhe (26), Mangesh Mundhe (30) and Anil Suryawanshi (22). All three are residents of Agasan village. Police said they had no other cases against them.

Khan said police at the Mumbra Police Station were supportive when he approached them. He also said that the police reassured him and promised to take action.