Salim Vastik openly exposed the shortcomings of Islam
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh – On February 27, 2026, popular youtuber and ex-Muslim activist Salim Vastik was brutally stabbed multiple times in his office-cum-home in the Loni area of Ghaziabad. The attack, captured on CCTV, involved two brothers, Zeeshan and Gulfam, who allegedly entered the premises on a motorcycle, overpowered him, and inflicted around 14 stab wounds, primarily to his neck, throat, abdomen, and ear. Vastik was left in a pool of blood and rushed to a local hospital before being transferred to Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital in Delhi, where he was initially in critical condition.
The motive, as per police investigations and reports, appears linked to Vastik’s online content, where he openly criticized certain aspects of Islamic teachings and practices.
Attackers killed in police encounter
Gulfam, one of the accused who carried out a deadly attack with a paper cutter on Salim Vastik for criticising Islam, was killed in a police encounter on the night of 3 March. The accused, who carried a reward of ₹1 lakh, had an encounter with a team from the Crime Branch and the Indirapuram police outpost. Two police personnel were injured in the encounter. A few days earlier, Gulfam’s brother Zeeshan, who was also involved in the attack on Vastik, had been killed in a police encounter.
Ex-Muslim activist Salim Vastic was brutally attacked by radical elements in a shocking act of targeted violence.
The two accused Zeeshan (seen in a white kurta) and Gulfam (in a green kurta) were later tracked down and eliminated in an encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police.… pic.twitter.com/zrXHc4lHWE— @VijayBharat (@shikhar711) March 4, 2026
1. According to the police, both brothers, Gulfam and Zeeshan, were involved in the attack on Salim Vastik on 27 February. After the incident, several short videos circulated showing the two fleeing on a motorcycle.
2. Following the attack, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed strong displeasure and warned that the attackers would not be spared. Soon afterwards, the police took swift action and shot both accused in encounters.
3. Based on CCTV footage, the police had identified both accused. Subsequently, a reward of ₹1 lakh was announced for each of them.
4. In an encounter that took place in Loni on 1 March, the younger brother Zeeshan was killed. At that time, the elder brother Gulfam managed to escape by taking advantage of the darkness. Since that day, the police had been searching for Gulfam.
5. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Piyush Kumar stated that after Zeeshan’s death, efforts were underway to locate Gulfam. Information was received that he was within the jurisdiction of the Indirapuram police outpost. At around 9:15 p.m., Gulfam was spotted near the electricity substation in Vasundhara along with an associate. When the police asked him to stop, he attempted to turn his motorcycle and flee. His motorcycle slipped and fell, after which the accused opened fire on the police.
6. In the firing, Head Constable Pushpendra Kumar Shukla and Sandeep Kumar were injured. During the retaliatory action, a police bullet struck Gulfam in the chest.
7. The Crime Branch has also examined the social media accounts of Zeeshan, who was killed in the earlier encounter two days ago. Investigations are ongoing into several short videos linked to extremist and terrorist ideology found on the account.
