What adds to the gruesomeness of the incident is that the killing happened in front of the victim’s minor grandson
NEW DELHI — The tragic death of Mohammad Mohsin, a 60-year-old Muslim vegetable vendor, in Bihar’s Jehanabad district has sparked widespread outrage on social media. Mohsin was beaten to death after a dispute with a Nagar Panchayat toll collector, Vicky Patel, over a meagre sum of Rs 5. The incident occurred on Tuesday (16 September) evening at Kako market, where the elderly vendor had been dealing in vegetables for nearly four decades.
What adds to the gruesomeness of the incident is that the killing happened in front of the victim’s minor grandson, media reports reaching here said on Wednesday.
Mohsin’s daily struggle to make ends meet is a testament to the hardships faced by many marginalised Muslims in the country. He would walk 3 km from his home to the market, earning just enough to feed his family. His modest income supported eight children, three sons, and five daughters.
The dispute began when Mohsin was asked to pay Rs 20 as a daily market fee, which he couldn’t afford to pay in full, offering Rs 15 instead, his son revealed. The victim reportedly explained that sales had not yet picked up and offered to pay Rs 15, requesting that the remaining Rs 5 be collected later.
An altercation followed with the fee collector, identified as Vicky Patel, a Nagar Palika cleaning staff supervisor who was collecting tolls on behalf of contractor Aditya Kumar.
Witnesses claim Vicky Patel attacked Mohsin with a dumbbell, striking his stomach and head in a fit of rage, which led to his instant death. The incident occurred in front of Mohsin’s minor grandson. What’s disturbing is that Mohsin’s body lay unattended in the market for hours as people continued with their daily business, seemingly unfazed by the incident.
Mohsin’s family describes him as a quiet, hardworking man who lived a simple life, selling vegetables to support his family. His son expressed the heartbreak, saying, “He would sit silently, sell his vegetables, and go home. He never harmed anyone. To think he lost his life over Rs 5 is heartbreaking.”
The killing triggered massive anger in the area with residents staging protests carrying Mohsin’s body and blocking the Jehanabad–Ekangsarai national highway. Hours later, police arrived at the spot and pacified them by assuring them that the accused would be arrested. The blockade was lifted only after police intervention and assurances of strict action. Police have said raids are being carried out to trace Patel.
Reacting to the incident, Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi, who is also chairman of the Congress minority department, strongly criticised the Bihar government. “This is real Jungle Raj of Bihar. Vegetable vendor was murdered over five rupees. BJP’s allies are not able to govern Bihar,” he said in a Hindi post on X platform.
Now, Mohsin’s eldest son, Mohammad Guddu, a daily wage laborer, has taken on the responsibility of supporting the family.
A case has been registered under Section 103 (murder) of the BNS, but Vicky Patel remains at large.
Photos of Patel with BJP leaders and Bihar’s Deputy Chief Ministers, Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, have surfaced on social media, sparking further controversy
The incident has triggered outrage among Muslim community members, many of whom have questioned the apathy of bystanders and the authorities. “Is a human life worth less than Rs 5? What kind of society have we become where people continue shopping while a man lies dead in front of them?” wrote a political leader Muzammil Imam on social media.
Tabish Warsi, another activist, demanded Patel’s immediate arrest. “This is not just about a murder. It is about the erosion of humanity. If society chooses silence today, the same fate could befall anyone tomorrow,” he said.
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Kako has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for Mohsin’s family. But locals say money cannot address the deeper issue. “The contractor system itself is flawed,” said Warsi. “It turns poor vendors into easy targets for extortion, while those with political links profit. Mohsin’s death is not just about Rs 5, it is about systemic exploitation.”
Police said they have taken cognisance of the incident. An FIR has been registered “We are verifying the details. The accused will be arrested soon,” a Jehanabad officer was quoted by The Observer Post as saying.
