Ghaziabad CCTV Footage Reveals Horrific Assault on YouTuber Saleem Wastik
A nearly four-minute clip from a CCTV camera inside the office of businessman and YouTuber Saleem Wastik in Loni, Ghaziabad, has emerged, capturing the ferocity of the assault that occurred on February 27. The footage provides a stark visual account of the violent attack that left Wastik critically injured.
Detailed Sequence of the Attack
The video begins with Saleem Wastik reclining on a sofa, casually watching a video on his mobile phone. Two men wearing helmets enter the office – later identified by police as brothers Zeeshan and Ghulfam from Amroha, who resided in Ghaziabad's Khoda Colony and worked as carpenters. Wastik gestures for them to take a seat, seemingly unaware of the impending danger.
Instead of sitting down, one of the visitors suddenly pulls out a paper cutter. Both assailants move in together, pinning Wastik down and repeatedly aiming for his throat with the sharp implement. As Wastik struggles violently and screams for help, one attacker in a blue jacket swiftly shuts the office door, effectively thwarting any potential rescue attempt and preventing his cries from being heard outside.
The violent struggle spills over to a nearby glass table, which shatters during the scuffle. One attacker grabs a jagged portion of the broken glass top and begins striking Wastik with it. The footage shows eight consecutive blows delivered with the glass shard in quick succession.
At one point, a woman appears outside the office, witnesses the attack unfolding, but hesitates at the threshold before the assailants switch back to using the paper cutter for further attacks. The attackers eventually leave the scene, concluding the brutal assault captured on camera.
Aftermath and Police Investigation
A separate 23-second video obtained by investigators shows two men fleeing the scene on a motorcycle with a Delhi number plate. Blood is clearly visible on their clothing in this footage, which was recorded by a commuter and handed over to police authorities.
According to police reports, before the attack, Zeeshan and Ghulfam arrived on their bike, parked outside Wastik's office, and told nearby children to move away before entering the premises. Medical examinations revealed that Wastik suffered 14 stab wounds to his abdomen and near his throat area. His condition remains critical following the vicious assault.
Police Commissioner J Ravindra Goud provided insights into the possible motives behind the attack. While Wastik's son Usman had earlier stated that only his father could reveal the true motive, Commissioner Goud indicated that investigators believe the brothers were dissatisfied with Wastik's views on Islam and the content of videos he uploaded on his YouTube channel.
An additional likely motive, according to Goud, was that Zeeshan had very few followers on his Instagram account and wanted to commit an act that would bring him notoriety and recognition. "We thoroughly checked their social media profiles and bank accounts, but so far, we haven't found any evidence to suggest they were influenced or triggered by someone else," Goud stated, suggesting the brothers were acting independently.
Subsequent Police Encounters
In a dramatic turn of events, Zeeshan was killed in a police encounter in Loni on the night of March 1. Authorities recovered a Splendor motorcycle and the paper cutter used in the attack from his possession, along with a 0.32 bore pistol manufactured in Italy and several live cartridges.
Ghulfam met a similar fate in another police encounter in Vasundhara on March 3, bringing a violent end to the investigation into the brutal assault on Saleem Wastik. The case has drawn significant attention to issues of online content creation, religious sensitivities, and the pursuit of social media fame through violent means.
