The sexagenarian victim’s offence was an objection to communal slurs thrown by members of a Hindu family; three arrested
NEW DELHI – A distressing incident in Bihar earlier this month reflects a pattern where Muslims often face persecution, escalating from communal verbal abuse to fatal violence.
On March 1 in the Jhagarua village under Jamalpur Police Station limits in Bihar’s Darbhanga district, 65-year-old Abdul Salam, a Muslim elder, was brutally beaten to death with an iron rod. His offence? Objecting to a family’s use of communally charged abusive language during a neighbourhood dispute over alleged brick theft. This confrontation quickly turned deadly when Manish Kumar Ram, his brother Roshan Kumar Ram, and their mother Vimla Devi allegedly attacked Salam, striking him on the head. He died on the spot.
The incident, which only came to light after arrests were made, highlights how a seemingly minor disagreement can quickly transform into a communally motivated assault, leading to the death of a Muslim individual. The involvement of an entire family in the fatal attack, prompted by an objection to religious slurs, points to deeply embedded biases.
While three individuals, including the primary accused, have been arrested, and authorities have deployed police to prevent further unrest, the event itself serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability faced by Muslims in certain regions, where their identity can make them targets in disputes, sometimes with fatal consequences. Despite official assurances of strict action, the underlying issue of communal tension and violence against Muslims remains a critical concern.
Reports said the sexagenarian victim, who was just a passerby, faced the wrath of the Hindu family after he objected to the communal slurs hurled by Vimla Devi.
Abdul Salam’s objection reportedly enraged the accused, who struck him on the head, inflicting severe injuries. He collapsed on the spot.
Villagers who witnessed the incident rushed Abdul Salam to the nearby Kiratpur Community Health Centre, but doctors declared him dead on arrival. Police arrived shortly after and took the body into custody, sending it to Darbhanga Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Given the seriousness of the incident and the communal tension that followed, senior district administration and police officials quickly descended on Jhagarua village. Darbhanga District Magistrate Kaushal Kishore, Senior Superintendent of Police Jagunath Reddy, DIG Manoj Tiwari and Biraul SDPO Prabhakar Tiwari all visited the village, assessed the situation and met with the victim’s family to assure them of strict action against those responsible.
A police camp has been established in the village and a heavy police force has been deployed to maintain peace and prevent any escalation.
Biraul SDPO Prabhakar Tiwari confirmed that three people, including the main accused Manish Kumar Ram, have been arrested in connection with the killing. Police are conducting raids to trace and arrest the remaining two accused. The victim’s family has named five people in total in their murder complaint.
DIG Manoj Tiwari appealed to the public not to pay attention to rumours and said the administration was closely monitoring those attempting to spread misinformation in the area. Authorities assured the victim’s family that no one involved in the killing would be spared.
