The house of a BSF jawan was among several burned by mobs in northeast Delhi's Khajuri Khas amid the riots that killed at least 42 people were killed in Hindu-Muslim violence this week, News18 reported.
The family of Mohammad Anees hoped the nameplate above the door, which has the BSF insignia and identifies Anees as a member of the paramilitary force, would deter the mob but to no avail.
As per the News18 report, the mob first pelted the house with stones and shouted: “Pakistani, we will give you citizenship” before tossing a gas cylinder into the home.
As per the report News18 report, Anees spent three years in Jammu and Kashmir guarding the border after joining the BSF in 2013. Anees' family has lost all their savings, including Rs3 lakh in cash and gold jewellery, as per the report.
At least 42 people were killed in Hindu-Muslim violence this week, police said, amid mounting international criticism that authorities failed to protect minority Muslims.
The clashes began over a citizenship law that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government introduced in December providing a path to Indian citizenship for six religious groups from neighbouring countries - but not Muslims.
Critics say the law is discriminatory and comes on top of other measures such as withdrawal of autonomy for Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir that has deepened disquiet about the future of India's 200 million Muslims.
Critics of the government however blamed this week's violence on members of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which was trounced in local Delhi elections at the beginning of the month. The BJP has denied the allegations.
