Maharashtrian tourists assault Muslim guide at Agra Fort for stating Shivaji was held captive
Agra: A Muslim tour guide was assaulted and humiliated by a group of tourists from Maharashtra at Agra Fort after he stated that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was once held captive there. The incident, which was captured on video and circulated on social media, shows the tourists pushing the guide, Sageer Baig, to the ground and forcing him to rub his nose before a statue of Shivaji.
The altercation reportedly began when Baig shared historical details about Shivaji’s captivity at the fort, a well-documented event from 1666. The tourists accused him of distorting history, despite his statement being consistent with recorded accounts. They then compelled him to apologise before letting him go.
Shivaji and his son, Sambhaji, were taken captive at Agra Fort by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb after the Treaty of Purandar in 1665. The treaty resulted in Shivaji ceding several forts to the Mughals. However, he was placed under house arrest during a visit to Aurangzeb’s court and later made a daring escape hidden inside a fruit basket.
The attack on the guide has sparked concerns over increasing intolerance in historical discourse, particularly amid heightened debates on Shivaji’s legacy following the release of Chhaava, a historical action film on his son Sambhaji Maharaj.
In UP's Agra, group of tourists from Maharashtra made guide Sageer Baig to rub his nose to ground before Shivaji's statue at Agra fort.The tourists got angry as the guide was explaining historical facts.They got angry because the guide stated Shivaji was held hostage in Agra fort pic.twitter.com/jg4i6XsNUq
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11-year-old dies by suicide after sexual assault in Bareilly; accused arrested
Bareilly (UP) (PTI): A 26-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl, who later died by suicide due to trauma, police said on Wednesday.
The post-mortem report confirmed sexual assault and multiple injuries on the minor's body, including bite marks and nail scratches. The cause of death was found to be hanging, they said.
According to ASP (South) Anshika Verma, the incident came to light on 27 April, when the girl, a Class 8 student, was found hanging at her home in Deoria Abdullaganj village under the Mirganj police station area. Initially, the family reported the death as suicide and was reluctant to pursue police action.
"The autopsy report changed the course of the investigation. It confirmed sexual assault and noted severe physical trauma. The cause of death was confirmed as hanging," Verma said.
A breakthrough in the case came from the statement of the victim's younger sister, who told police that the accused, Zeeshan (26), a resident of the same village, frequently loitered near the minor's school and allegedly gave her small sums of money to keep his interactions with her a secret, she said.
Police said that on the day of the incident, the accused allegedly lured the minor and assaulted her. Distressed by the incident, the child later took her own life while her mother was away, police said.
"Based on technical surveillance, CCTV footage, and statements from the family, we established Zeeshan's involvement. He was arrested near the Mirganj weekly market on Tuesday," they said.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)
