Ghaziabad: Two men wearing helmets barged into the office of a 55-year-old man and stabbed him multiple times on Friday. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, which referred him to GTB hospital in Delhi. He is in a critical condition. The victim, Saleem Wastik, is a businessman who often posts videos on social media on religious practices. He lives with his family in a two-storeyed house at Ali Garden, Loni and uses the ground floor of his residence as his office. In several media interviews and talks, he has questioned orthodox ideas. Loni ACP Siddharth Gautam said around 6am, they were informed by Wastik’s neighbour that he had been stabbed and was lying in a pool of blood in his office. A police team reached the spot and took him to a nearby hospital. He was later referred to GTB hospital. “He received multiple knife injuries to his abdomen and throat and is critical,” the ACP said.He added that an initial investigation has revealed that two people came on a bike and parked it outside Wastik’s office. They were wearing helmets. The men asked some children who were loitering outside the office to go home. They, then, went into the office where Wastik was sitting on his chair. They started beating him and later stabbed him multiple times with a knife. When his family members came running, the men fled.“We have formed teams to nab the men. One of the teams is reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas. Police are questioning the neighbours as well,” Gautam said.Wastik’s son, Usman, told the cops in his complaint that he suspects five people to be behind the attack. ACP Gautam said an FIR has been registered at Loni police station naming the men for attempt to murder and common intention under BNS.Saleem’s friend Ehsaan said, “Saleem questions religious fundamentalism and some people do not like it.”
