New Delhi, Feb. 17 -- The Uttar Pradesh government has agreed to invoke hate crime offences against the accused nearly five years Delhi man alleged that he was tortured, abused, and humiliated over his Muslim identity. The state made the submissions in court two weeks after a bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta asked it whether it would register a case in the 2021 case under hate crime provisions. The incident dates back to July 4, 2021, when the victim, Kazeem Ahmad Sherwani, a resident of Delhi, reached Noida as he was travelling to Aligarh. There, he was accosted by a group of men who, at first, offered him a lift, but then abused him and pulled at his beard. In November 2021, Sherwani approached the top court, seeking compensation for the injury caused to him by the inaction of the police to register his complaint. Additional solicitor general (ASG) KM Nataraj appearing for UP informed the court that upon examination, the state believes that sections 153B (imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integrity) and section 295A (outraging religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) will apply. He further stated that within a week, these provisions will be added to the case by making suitable application before the trial court. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi appeared for the petitioner along with advocate Shahrukh Alam urged the court that the issue of compensation is still outstanding. The bench said, "Now ASG Nataraj has accepted that sections 153B and 295A should apply. For compensation, you can approach the appropriate forum." P7...