“He called me a terrorist, may be because he didn’t know the meaning of that, but I was shocked as I am aware what the term terrorist means,” says Ashraf BM Kalluvari, a Kabaddi player and a coach. The 40-year old man was allegedly subjected to a humiliating and disheartening experience on Sunday, when he was blocked from attending a Kabbadi tournament where he was to be the chief guest.
Hailing from Kalluvari near Kanhangad in Kasargode Ashraf is familiar as a player even in the nearby villages. He is a part of Black and White Kabaddi Club in Kalluravi. On Sunday, a Kabaddi tournament was organised by a club called Jhansi in Mavulangal. Ashraf was invited as the Chief Guest for the tournament by the organisers. When he reached the Mavungal town however, a group of people led by Rajan alias Chatti Rajan blocked Ashraf.
“They asked me where I was going, and told me that I shouldn’t go. “You are a Muslim and a Muslim terrorist,” they said and blocked me. They were a group of 10 to 15 people,” Ashraf tells TNM. “Me and Rajan know each other and we have never had any problem with each other, hence it was a huge shock for me. The people who were present at the time in the town know both me and Rajan. The situation was such that none of my friends could intervene at that time fearing that any provocation would cause a problem,” Ashraf says.
The police came to the spot and took Ashraf along with them for to prevent any attack against him. The Kanhangad police has registered a case based on the complaint given by Ashraf.
The police has booked Rajan under sections 341 (for wrongful restraint) and 323 (for voluntarily causing hurt). “Rajan is an accused in several cases and served imprisonment under Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention (Act). He is part of the BJP’s trade union Bharath Masdoor Sangh,” the police said.
However, the BJP District General Secretary A Velayudhan denied Rajan was part of the party or its trade union. "Rajan is not a party worker though he has affinity towards the party. Today I saw a Facebook post about the incident, before that we were not aware that it happened. Rajan used to take part in some BMS protests, but he party has no relation with him," he said.