Udupi Hijab Petitioner Alleges Sangh Parivar Members Attacked Father’s Hotel, Assaulted Her Brother

The business establishment belonging to the father of the Udupi Government college student, Hazra Shifa- who had approached the High Court challenging the Hijab ban – was reportedly vandalized by a gang of 100-150 Sangh Parivar goons on Monday around 9.30 pm at Malpe.

The hotel known as ‘Bismillah Hotel’ owned by Mr. Hyder Ali, father of the Hazra Shifa, was vandalized by the gang who pelted stones on the establishment. Hazra’s brother, identified as Saif (20), who was in the Hotel at the time of the attack was also assaulted by the Sangh Parivar assailants, it is learned.

Shifa, who took to Twitter around midnight on Monday expressed her outrage at the attack on her family and posted, “My brother was brutally attacked by a mob. Just because I continue to stand for My #Hijab which is MY RIGHT. Our property were ruined as well. Why?? Can’t I demand my right? Who will be their next victim? I demand action to be taken against the Sangh Parivar goons”, she tweeted tagging the Udupi Police’s official Twitter handle.

Saif, who was subjected to a brutal assault was reportedly admitted to a private hospital in Udupi, and receiving treatment.

In the aftermath of the attack, while Shifa’s brother is in the hospital, her father’s establishment is said to have incurred losses with destruction to the property.

The incident has created a tense environment in the region, and the Malpe police have registered a case in this regard.

The attack on Shifa’s family comes days after the Karnataka BJP leaked the details of the five Muslim students from Udupi who are petitioners in the ongoing Hijab case in the Karnataka High Court. The students and their families have been at the receiving end of abusive, threatening phone calls, ever since.

Shifa’s classmate and fellow Udupi student, Almas tweeted, “Saif, Brother of Hazra Shifa was brutally attacked by a mob and property were ruined as well. Just bcoz she is standing firmly against injustice and demanding for her right!? Who will be their next victim? I demand action to be taken against the Sangh Parivar goons”, she posted.

With the attack on the family of the petitioner who approached the High Court, other students fighting the Hijab ban have expressed concern over their safety.

The Karnataka High Court Bench comprising of three judges, headed by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, is currently hearing the petition challenging the Hijab ban in educational institutions in the state.