Mira Road cleric loses eye as man attacks him with stone

Maulana Sarafat Hussain Khan, the victim (right) a screengrab of CCTV camera footage of the attack

A 53-year-old Muslim cleric lost an eye and suffered grievous injuries after he was attacked by a man with a stone at Mira Road. The police said the accused was upset with the victim as he believed his father suffered losses due to black magic done by the religious leader. Victim Maulana Sarafat Hussain Khan received 42 stitches on his head.

The police said Khan teaches at Darul Uloom Madrasa at Naya Nagar, Mira Road, while accused Abdul Razzaq Solanki, 26, is a local resident. The police said Khan was on his way to attend a marriage when he was targeted around 10 pm on January 5. Khan was near Umar Masjid when Solanki repeatedly hit him with a stone. A profusely bleeding Khan collapsed on the road. Locals nabbed Solanki and handed him over to the police, said a cop. Khan was first taken to Tanvar Hospital and was later shifted to BhaktiVedanta Hospital.

Inspector Jilani Sayyed of Naya Nagar police station told mid-day, "Solanki told us that he wanted to take revenge on Maulana Khan by killing him. Solanki's father had a real estate business and he lost a lot of money in lockdown. Solanki suspected the Maulana was doing some black magic on his father." Sayyed added, "Due to the attack, Maulana Khan lost an eye and received 42 stitches on his head. He is currently in the ICU. We are recording statements of witnesses."

A court had remanded Solanki in police custody till January 10. Maulana Khan's son Jabiullah Sarafat Hussain Khan said, "My father teaches in the madrasa and Solanki regularly visits the place. Suddenly, his behaviour changed and he attacked my father. It seems he was misguided by someone. My father never did anything wrong with anyone."