Hindu mob brutally lynches two Muslim salesmen in Karnataka

India’s so-called image of a democratic and stable state has been shattered once again as two Muslim door-to-door salesmen were lynched and brutally assaulted by a Hindu mob in Karnataka state.

As per details, Rafeeq and Ramizuddin, two cloth merchants, were brutally attacked nearly by a mob of 50 near Kaniyooru village in Puttur Taluk, accusing them of "misbehaving" with women.

The family of victims said that they usually used to go from village to village to sell clothes. "Words were exchanged when one of the women was buying clothes. This led to the attack when they (the victims) were returning," they said.

Following massive outrage from the local Muslim community, police were forced to lodge FIR against the suspects under IPC Sections 144, 341, 504, 323, 324, 427, and 149. However, the names of the suspects were not mentioned.

Read more: ‘India fast heading towards much-feared genocide’

Earlier this month, Indian police tied Muslim men to a pole and publicly flogged them with canes after they were arrested for allegedly throwing stones at a Hindu religious event, Navratri Garba, in Gujarat state.

Viral videos show policemen in plain clothes beating Muslim men with their hands tied. Police officials in uniform were also present while a huge crowd cheering and chanting slogans, reported NDTV.

Local news outlet VTV Gujarati News also shared the video, saying: "10-11 heretics were brought to the village, where the police taught them a lesson in public" in Undhela village.

The men were asked to "apologise to the public" and the police inspector in charge of the area was present too, the report added.