Abdul Kalam, a poor worker, was killed by a mob in Bokaro after being accused of molesting a tribal girl
BOKARO (Jharkhand) — A disturbing case of mob violence has emerged from Jharkhand’s Bokaro district, where a Muslim youth was brutally beaten to death in the Narayanpur area on Thursday. The shocking incident, captured on video and widely shared on social media, has triggered outrage across the country and renewed calls for stricter enforcement of anti-lynching laws.
According to police and local sources, the victim, Abdul Kalam, was accused of molesting a tribal girl — a claim that has not yet been independently verified. Despite this, a mob allegedly tied Abdul Kalam’s hands, subjected him to brutal physical assault, and hurled abuses at him. The video, which has since gone viral, shows a defenceless man being repeatedly beaten while bystanders either participate or passively observe the barbarity.
Abdul Kalam, described by family and neighbours as a hardworking youth, was reportedly the sole breadwinner of his family. He earned his livelihood working in local construction projects and lived with his elderly mother, whom he supported after the death of his father some years ago.
“This is not just a case of murder,” said a resident who wished to remain anonymous. “It is a systematic failure of our law and order. Abdul was not proven guilty. Even if there was an accusation, it should have been dealt with through legal means, not street justice.”
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from political and civil society groups. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) was among the first to condemn the killing. Party leaders called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those involved in the lynching.
“What happened in Bokaro is a blot on our collective conscience,” said an AIMIM spokesperson during a press briefing in Ranchi. “Abdul Kalam was a daily wage labourer, trying to make ends meet for his aged mother. His murder is not just a crime — it is the assassination of our Constitution, of our rule of law, and of our shared humanity.”
AIMIM has also raised pointed questions about selective justice. “Will bulldozers now demolish the homes of the accused, as is done in other cases?” asked the spokesperson. “Will these killers be treated the same way as others accused of violence?”
The Jharkhand police have confirmed the arrest of two individuals in connection with the incident. Superintendent of Police (SP) Bokaro, Priyadarshi Alok, stated: “We have taken cognisance of the video and launched a thorough investigation. Two individuals have been arrested and more suspects are being identified based on the footage.”
He added that a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including charges of murder and rioting. Authorities have appealed to the public not to share the video further, citing its disturbing content and the ongoing investigation.
Human rights activists have condemned the killing and criticised what they describe as a rising trend of vigilante justice in India. “It doesn’t matter what the accusation was — no one has the right to take the law into their own hands,” said Ravi Nair, a Delhi-based rights advocate. “This is lynching, plain and simple. And it must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.”
He further noted that despite the Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling calling for strict laws to tackle mob lynching, implementation at the state level remains inadequate. “We keep seeing these incidents, especially targeting minorities, yet prosecutions remain rare and convictions even rarer,” he added.
Mob lynching has become an increasingly frequent phenomenon in India in recent years, often fuelled by misinformation, communal tensions, or social media provocations. In Jharkhand, several high-profile lynching cases have previously drawn attention, yet critics argue that little has changed on the ground.
“This is not the first time such brutality has happened in Jharkhand,” said a social worker based in Ranchi. “Every time a person is lynched, politicians make statements, and then everything is forgotten.”
In 2019, the lynching of Tabrez Ansari in Jharkhand made national headlines after he was forced to chant Hindu religious slogans by a mob before being fatally beaten. That incident, too, was captured on video, sparking national outrage.
Although the Jharkhand Assembly passed a bill in 2021 criminalising mob lynching and prescribing life imprisonment for those convicted, implementation remains weak. Human rights watchdogs say that without strong political will and community outreach, such laws remain ineffective.
“There must be zero tolerance for such acts,” said senior advocate Aftab Alam. “Laws must be enforced impartially and swiftly, otherwise the message that gets sent is one of impunity.”
At Abdul Kalam’s home, grief and shock prevail. His mother, unable to speak much due to the trauma, was surrounded by neighbours offering condolences. “He was all she had,” said a neighbour. “He worked hard every day, never created trouble. How can anyone justify what happened?”
Local Muslim organisations and community leaders have offered support to the bereaved family and have announced plans to stage peaceful protests demanding justice.
“We will not rest until all those involved are behind bars,” said a leader from a local mosque committee. “And we will do this through democratic and legal means, not through violence.”
This incident has once again ignited debate over the growing normalisation of mob violence in India. With communal lines increasingly hardening, analysts fear that unless urgent measures are taken to restore faith in legal institutions and ensure justice, such tragic events may continue.
“Mob lynching is not just an act of violence — it is a symptom of a deeper disease in our society,” said Prof Zoya Hasan, a political analyst. “When people lose faith in institutions and feel emboldened by majoritarian impulses, the rule of law begins to collapse.”
As Abdul Kalam’s funeral prayers were held on Friday amid tears and calls for justice, one question remained on everyone’s lips: How long will it take before justice truly becomes blind and impartial in India?
