Maulana Tousif Raza Mazhari’s widow alleges assault was streamed live on video call; relatives say injuries point to murder, not a fall
NEW DELHI — The family of a 30-year-old Imam of a mosque from Bihar has rejected railway authorities’ claim that his death near Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, was an accident, alleging he was beaten and thrown from a moving train after being targeted for his appearance.
The body of Maulana Tousif Raza Mazhari, from Kishanganj district, was found near the railway tracks close to Bareilly station late on Sunday, April 26. Railway officials termed the incident an accident. His family alleges foul play, saying he was assaulted by unidentified co-passengers during his return journey from a religious event in Bareilly.
Tabassum Khatoon, the deceased imam’s widow, said her husband called her the night of April 26, sounding frightened. “He told me some people were beating him,” she was quoted by The Observer Post as saying.
She said Mazhari, an imam and madrasa teacher in Siwan, tried to prove his identity during the call. “They were calling him a thief and accusing him of stealing. He showed them his books and bag on video call and said, ‘I am not a thief, I teach at a madrasa.’ I also shouted on the call, asking people to help him, but no one listened.”
Khatoon alleges she witnessed the assault in real time. “I saw them dragging him by the collar, slapping and beating him. It was terrifying. I believe this was not random. There is some conspiracy behind it,” she said.
She suggested his religious attire may have led to him being targeted. “He had a beard and wore a cap. It is possible they attacked him because of that.”
The family disputes that Mazhari fell from the train, pointing to the state of his remains. “If he had fallen from a moving train, his body would have been badly damaged. But his body was intact, with clear signs of beating all over,” Khatoon said.
She said she called repeatedly through the night with no response. The next morning, a police officer answered her husband’s phone and informed her that his phone and belongings were found near the tracks. “At first, they said he was serious, and later they confirmed he had died,” she said. The body was taken to Bareilly Cantt police station before the family was notified.
‘This is Not an Accident, This is Murder’
Maulana Raza’s uncle alleged the attack was orchestrated. “It appears they first assaulted him and then tried to convince others that he was a thief. This was done cleverly to turn the crowd against him,” he said, questioning the law-and-order situation.
Tawangar Hussain Baghi, a Thakurganj resident, said the incident has created fear among migrant workers who regularly take trains to Delhi and Mumbai. “People here are cancelling their train tickets. They are scared that they might also be attacked and thrown out of trains,” he said.
Baghi alleged identity was a factor: “Because of his beard, cap, and the name ‘Mohammad’ on his ID, he may have been singled out. This is not an accident, this is murder,” he claimed. He drew parallels to past mob violence cases and urged collective action: “If we remain silent today, no one will stand for us tomorrow.”
The family has not yet filed a formal FIR but says it is preparing to pursue legal action. Community members are demanding an impartial probe, asking the Uttar Pradesh government and railway authorities to identify the attackers, review CCTV footage, and take strict action against those responsible.
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Photo courtesy: The Observer Post
