Man Set Ablaze Following Prayer Dispute in Uttar Pradesh Mosque: Investigation Underway

A man was tied to a pole and set on fire following a dispute over a place to offer prayers inside a mosque in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district, police said. The victim, identified as 20-year-old Mehboob, survived the attack and is currently recovering in a hospital.

The violent incident took place on Friday morning, following a quarrel that had erupted at a mosque in the Sahaswan Road area the previous day. According to police reports, the conflict originated when Mehboob and three other men from the Mustafabad neighborhood in Islamnagar Nagar Panchayat had a disagreement regarding the location for offering prayers inside the mosque.

The initial dispute on Thursday was temporarily resolved after fellow mosque attendees intervened. However, when Mehboob returned for early morning prayers on Friday, the argument escalated dramatically.

As Mehboob exited the mosque, three individuals overpowered him, bound him to a pole with rope, doused him with petrol, and set him ablaze. When the ropes burned away, Mehboob managed to free himself and run home despite suffering severe burn injuries.

His family immediately transported him to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Rudayan, where medical staff later referred him to a more advanced medical facility in Aligarh. According to police, his condition has stabilized and he is no longer in danger.

Superintendent of Police (Rural) Hardesh Katheria confirmed that authorities were notified about the incident through UP-112, the state's emergency helpline.

Adding complexity to the case, police have discovered CCTV footage from a nearby petrol pump showing Mehboob himself purchasing petrol shortly before the incident occurred. Officials stated this evidence has prompted them to examine the case "from all possible angles."

The investigation remains active, with all accounts being thoroughly verified, according to SP Katheria.