Social activist Swami Agnivesh was beaten up and his clothes were torn allegedly by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) [BJP’s youth wing] workers in Jharkhand’s Pakur district. According to local reports, the BJYM workers were disgruntled over Agnivesh’s criticism of the governing Bharatiya Janata Party.

In the video of the assault, doing rounds of the social media, a bunch of protestors can be seen showing black flags to Agnivesh as he steps out of the hotel.  They suddenly start slapping and punching him. The assaulters didn’t stop hitting him, even when Agnivesh fell to the ground.

Speaking to NDTV, the social activist said, “I am against any sort of violence. I am known as a peace-loving person. I don’t know why I was attacked.” He further told the channel that it was an unprovoked attack and in fact, he had asked the protestors to meet and speak to him but no one turned up.

The attackers, believed to be from the BJYM, were also shouting Jai Shree Ram slogans as they thrashed the social activist.

According to Prabhat Khabar, the BJYM workers have accused Agnivesh of acting on the instructions of the Christian missionaries and provoking tribals.