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Muslim bracelet seller acquitted after false allegations and three-year legal battle
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Muslim bracelet seller acquitted after false allegations and three-year legal battle

“I was selling bangles in New Govind Nagar, Banganga police station area, when someone called me and asked my name. When I told them my name was Tasleem, they started beating me, breaking my cell phone and inciting other people to join the attack.

On August 21, 2021, Tasleem Ali, a bangle seller, was attacked by a mob in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

However, when he approached the police to file a complaint along with some of his supporters, cases were also filed against his supporters.

A native of Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, and the sole breadwinner of a family of seven, he came to Madhya Pradesh in search of better income.

During the attack, the crowd reportedly looted all his belongings and brutally beat him. The video of the incident went viral on social media, prompting many people to come to Tasleem’s aid, but his legal acquittal comes after more than three years of fighting for justice.

Days later, Tasleem learned that he was booked under nine sections, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, sexual assault and cheating. The mob accused Tasleem of molesting a minor girl while selling bangles. He was arrested and spent 108 days in jail before being granted bail.