Fingered for the crime? Men held for 'thief' amputation at pro-Mursi rally

 

 

Last Update: Tuesday, 16 July 2013 KSA 10:37 - GMT 07:37

Fingered for the crime? Men held for ‘thief’ amputation at pro-Mursi rally

Al Arabiya

Egyptian police arrested four men suspected of cutting off the finger of a civilian who supposedly attempted to steal the belongings of a protestor in a Cairo square, Egypt Independent reported on Monday, quoting the Middle East News Agency (MENA).

The square of Rabea al-Adawiya is the scene of an ongoing sit-in by the supporters of ousted president Mohammad Mursi demanding his return to power.

Security forces reportedly saw a car parked on the side of Cairo’s ring road early Monday, where four people stood next to it, while a chained passenger sat inside with serious injuries after his right thumb had been apparently cut off, MENA reported, according to Egypt Independent.

The victim told the police that the suspects beat him at Rabaa al-Adawiya before cutting his thumb off, according to the report.

The suspects said they were planning to abandon him in a deserted area as punishment, the report added.

This came amid escalating tensions between security forces and pro-Mursi supporters, who took to the streets demanding the reinstatement of the Islamist president.

Mursi was overthrown by the military forces after millions protested against his rule.

His supporters who continue their demonstrations at Rabaa al-Adawiya say Mursi’s ouster was a military coup. His opponent reject this designation and insist that the June 30 uprising was a popular revolution backed by the armed forces.