A father was brutally chopped several times by a man wielding an axe while he was sitting with his son outside his home in India. The recent attack in the Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh, has left the father with life-threatening injuries.
The attack occurred at 8:87 a.m. in the Jhinjhana village on April 27. The father, identified as an Indian Muslim named Sarfaraz, and the attacker are said to be residents named Govind. Sarfaraz was sitting on the steps just outside his home with his son when Govind appeared with an axe and struck multiple times.
The devastating incident was captured on a security camera in the area and has since gone viral across Indian media platforms. The footage shows Sarfaraz sitting on the steps with his child before the attacker launches at him, knocking him down with the first blow. Govind then continues to strike the helpless man while the young boy watches.
Sarfaraz sustained injuries to his face, neck, and shoulders. The 30-year-old victim was rushed to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Eyewitnesses report that Govind appeared suddenly and launched the assault without provocation. After the attack, he was seen walking through the village, brandishing the bloodied axe and shouting, “26 ke badle 26 marunga,” which translates to “I will kill 26 in return for 26.”
According to online social media posts, this statement reference was interpreted by many as revenge for the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives. Sarfaraz’s family also alleged Govind yelled, “Save yourself if you can,” while making further threats.
Despite widespread speculation about a communal motive, the Shamli police have stated that the connection to the Pahalgam attack is “baseless” at this stage, per online posts. Another speculation indicated that Sarfaraz previously made a comment about Govind’s sister, which infuriated him, leading to the attack. However, police have not confirmed this allegation and authorities continue to investigate the incident.
