20-year-old man set on fire after dispute over prayer spot in UP mosque

Badaun, Uttar Pradesh: A 20-year-old man was tied to a pole and set on fire following a dispute over a place to offer prayers inside a mosque in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh, police said on Friday.

The victim, identified as Mehboob, sustained severe burn injuries but managed to escape and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital, where his condition is reported to be stable.

According to police, the incident took place on Friday morning in the Sahaswan Road area, a day after a quarrel broke out inside the mosque. The dispute reportedly began on Thursday when Mehboob and three others from Mustafabad in Islamnagar Nagar Panchayat argued over where to offer prayers. The argument was briefly settled after intervention from other worshippers.

However, tensions flared again the next morning when Mehboob returned for early prayers. As he stepped outside the mosque, three men allegedly overpowered him, tied him to a pole, doused him in petrol, and set him on fire.

The ropes burned away, allowing Mehboob to break free and run home despite sustaining serious injuries. His family rushed him to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Rudayan, from where he was referred to a higher medical facility in Aligarh.

Superintendent of Police (Rural) Hardesh Katheria said the police received information about the incident through the state emergency helpline, UP-112.

However, CCTV footage obtained from a nearby petrol pump has complicated the investigation. The footage reportedly shows Mehboob himself purchasing petrol shortly before the incident.

“This has prompted us to examine the case from all possible angles,” SP Katheria said, adding that investigators are verifying every version of events.

The police have launched a thorough investigation and are questioning local residents as they work to determine the exact sequence of events and the motive behind the attack.