Masum Akhtar, a newspaper columnist and the headmaster of a madrasa in Kolkata"™s Metiabruz area, was attacked by suspected Muslim hardliners on March 26. Speaking to The Indian Express soon after being discharged from the hospital, Akhtar said he feared for his life and would approach Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for help.
Akhtar was treated for head injuries after a mob beat him with iron rods."My life is in danger. I am physically brutalised and mentally traumatised. There is no place for free thinking in the society," he said.
The provocation for the attack, he said, seems to be a class he took earlier this month, in which he spoke about Islam."I am afraid some students misinterpreted my teaching and circulated that in the area, after which the attack was organised," Akhtar said.