PATNA — A Muslim youth was brutally assaulted by a mob in Bihar’s Samastipur district after villagers accused him of theft, deepening fear among Indian Muslims amid a series of violent incidents allegedly driven by religious bias.
The victim, Mohammad Dawood, was tied to an electric pole and beaten in Fulhara village under the Kalyanpur police station area. Dawood, a resident of Fulbaria village in Darbhanga district, was attacked late at night after arriving in a four-wheeler. Others travelling with him reportedly fled the scene.
Villagers later informed the police, claiming they had caught a thief. Dawood, who suffered serious injuries, was taken to the police station for questioning. Police sources said only a mobile phone and the vehicle’s keys were recovered from him.
A police officer said, “We received information that a suspected thief had been caught. The injured man was brought to the station and is being questioned. All facts are being verified.”
Local residents and rights workers said the assault fits a disturbing pattern seen in recent months, where Muslim men are targeted on mere suspicion. “No stolen goods were found. Still, he was tied up and beaten. This should never happen to anyone,” said a resident of the area.
The Samastipur incident comes weeks after the killing of Athar Hussain in Bihar’s Nawada district on December 5, 2025. Athar, 35, a resident of Nalanda district, was beaten by a mob and later died at Bihar Sharif Sadar Hospital.
In his final statement to doctors, Athar said the attackers questioned him about his religion before assaulting him because he was Muslim. He alleged that his trousers were removed, his ears were cut with scissors, and his body was burned with a heated iron. A relative recalled, “Athar kept saying they beat him after asking his religion. He was crying in pain.”
Muslim organisations said the incidents point to a serious failure of the state to protect minorities. “Indian Muslims are living in fear. Mobs are acting as judge and executioner. The law must prevail, not the crowd,” said a community leader in Bihar.
Civil society members demanded swift and strict action against those involved and urged the police to take firm steps to prevent mob violence. “No one has the right to assault a person based on suspicion,” said a Patna-based lawyer. “Justice must be prompt and equal for all.”
Police said investigations are ongoing in both cases. Families of the victims said they are seeking arrests and fair trials to ensure that such attacks are not repeated.
