Online users wonder if the home of the arrested Hindu accused would be bulldozed, as has been done with Muslim properties
DARBHANGA — A Yamaha showroom manager was killed in his office in Darbhanga district on Friday (June 12), in an attack captured on CCTV. The victim, Mohammad Faiz Ahmed, was assaulted inside the showroom under Ashok Paper Mill police station limits.
Police identified the accused as Sonu Kumar Paswan, a former employee of the showroom. CCTV footage that later went viral shows a man entering the office with an iron rod/motorcycle shock absorber and attacking Faiz while he was seated at his desk. The victim is seen raising his hands to defend himself before collapsing. The attacker briefly steps out, returns with a pair of scissors, stabs Faiz repeatedly in the neck, and then strikes him again with the rod.
Police said Paswan fled on a scooter but was arrested within hours. He has been sent to judicial custody. A murder case has been registered and the investigation is ongoing.
According to Ashok Paper Mill police and Sadar DSP Rajiv Kumar, Paswan had been employed at the showroom but was terminated after Faiz complained about his irregular attendance. Police say the attack was driven by “past grudges” and a personal enmity stemming from the job loss. Officials also cited a financial dispute between the two.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed and said he “felt he had no other way to settle the score”. Police recovered key evidence, including the murder weapon and the clothes worn during the crime.
Family Demands Fair Probe
Faiz’s family has contested parts of the police narrative. Speaking to local media, his father said his son “had no dispute with anyone” and alleged the case was being covered up. He rejected claims that the accused had worked at the showroom and urged authorities to investigate all possible angles.
Family members said Faiz had returned from Friday prayers shortly before the attack. They have expressed concern for their safety and called for justice.
Questions of Selective Action
The CCTV footage sparked widespread outrage online, with users condemning the brutality and questioning law and order in Bihar. One post described Bihar as “a living hell” and referenced “no fear of encounter or even arrest”. Another questioned whether “Muslims get swift justice like Hindus” while noting police arrested the accused quickly.
Following the murder, locals blocked National Cinema Square for hours, placing the body on the road and demanding immediate arrest and strict punishment.
Amid the public discourse, some social media users are now asking whether the accused, who is a Hindu, will face bulldozer action against his house — a measure that has been used by authorities in several states against properties of Muslim accused in recent high-profile cases. Commentators online have pointed to this as a question of consistency in state response.
Investigation Status
Police have not publicly indicated any communal angle and said the probe remains underway. Officials are examining CCTV evidence, witness statements, and other material to establish the full circumstances.
Sadar DSP Rajiv Kumar said, “Preliminary investigation suggests the murder was linked to an old rivalry. The accused was previously employed at the agency and had a dispute with the deceased”. Acting SSP Ashok Kumar said, “The reasons behind the murder are yet to be established. A thorough investigation is underway”.
For now, Mohammad Faiz Ahmed’s family continues to seek answers and justice. He is survived by relatives who described him as a “loving son, brother and breadwinner.”
