Rajgarh: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has accused the Shivraj Singh Chauhan-led BJP government in Madhya Pradesh of subjecting the two Muslim inmates, who were allegedly forced to shave off their beard by the jail authorities, to "custodial torture in violation of Article 25". Two Muslim men, who were allegedly forced to shave their beards against their wish while they were lodged in jail, have appealed to the District Collector to take appropriate action against the responsible officials.
The incident came to light on September 13 from Rajgarh jail even as the authorities denied any such incident had happened on the jail premises. The complainants Wahid and Kalim were sent to jail under section 151 of the IPC for gathering in a group of five or more persons despite being lawfully commanded to disperse.
However, they were released the next day. Both the prisoners alleged that they were harassed by the jailers inside, and forced to shave their beards off though they refused to do so as they had kept it as part of their faith. "Having a beard does not make one Pakistani, many freedom fighters had beards," Owaisi said adding the action by the jail authorities amounts to "custodial torture in violation of Article 25".