Beard Turns Deadly: ‘Bangladeshi’ Slur Sparks Mob Violence in Bihar’s Madhubani

Patna/Madhubani: A mob lynching incident in the Madhubani district of Bihar on December 29 night has raised serious questions about the state's law and order situation. A mob attempted to lynch a poor labourer from Supaul district by declaring him "Bangladeshi" and "Pakistani" simply due to his beard and Bengali dialect. The role of the police administration and political rhetoric in this matter have raised several serious questions.

‘There is Still no FIR Copy From Police’

As per reports, a fresh first information report (FIR), after sustained pressure from civil society organisations, is slated to be registered on Monday, January 5. Moreover, no arrests have been made so far.

The police inspector concerned stated on Sunday noon that the victim’s family would be called on Monday to lodge a fresh FIR. The police also reportedly offered a new phone to the victim’s family, as his phone was broken during the lynching attempt by a Right-wing mob.

However, there is still widespread confusion regarding the police response; at present, there appears to be no clear intent to take decisive action, said sources.

The Incident

According to videos of the incident, the victim, Noorshed, and other eyewitnesses, the event took place in the 'Nandi Chakda' area under the Rajnagar police station. The victim has been identified as Murshid Alam (alias Noorshed), a resident of Supaul. He was working as a mason at a construction site of a government drain in Ward Number 44 of Nandi Chakda in Madhubani district.

On the night of December 29, some anti-social elements entered Murshid's room. Seeing his beard, they abused him, called him 'Bangladeshi', threatened to kill him, and forcibly made him chant "Jai Shri Ram". The accused also filmed a video of this. The next day, on the afternoon of December 30, when Murshid left to return home, a mob of about 50 people surrounded him in a pre-planned manner and brutally beat him with sticks and rods, as per wtinessses. This is being described as a clear attempt at mob lynching.

Language and Identity

Following the incident, a high-level delegation from Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Bihar, met the victim. Questioning the administration's claims, Bihar president of the Jamaat, Maulana Rizwan, said Murshid Alam was a Bengali-speaking person. He added that speaking Bengali was common in the Seemanchal districts, such as Supaul, Araria, and Kishanganj, “and this does not mean they have become Bangladeshis.”

Rizwan termed the incident as a “hate-motivated attack” on a poor Muslim labourer. He said that the injured labourer was treated in Purnia and was currently at home, though his condition remained critical.

Mob Lynching or Murder?

After pressure from social organisations and the video going viral, the police appeared to swing into action. Madhubani Superintendent of Police Yogendra Kumar spoke of taking immediate action in the matter. The police have registered a case under Sections related to 'attempt to murder' and have described the sequence of events as the result of "misunderstanding" and "rumours". The police claimed that two people were seen fighting in the video, and both had been identified.

However, Jamaat-e-Islami and another organisation, SIO, have termed the SP's statement as “misleading”. They alleged that the police were diluting the matter by calling it a "fight between two people," whereas it was a “planned attack by a collective mob.” SIO Bihar president Daniyal Akram alleged that the inaction of the Bihar Police was emboldening criminals.

He stated that the Supreme Court had described mob lynching as a threat to the country and had directed all states to appoint nodal officers, take strict action, provide compensation to victims, and ensure quick arrest of culprits. Despite this, these orders were being openly ignored in Bihar, he added.

The main Opposition party in Bihar, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has also questioned the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance government on this issue. In a statement, RJD said the 'authority' of the Bihar Police was finished. It stated that the incident in Madhubani had shamed Bihar, alleging that Nitish Kumar was “sleeping in the lap of the Sangh and criminals are receiving political patronage.”

Viewing the seriousness of the matter, the Chairman of the Bihar State Minorities Commission, Ghulam Rasul Balyawi, has spoken of taking suo motu cognizance. The Commission has issued a notice to the local administration summoning a detailed report of the incident and has directed strict action against the culprits.

The RJD and other social organisations have placed clear demands before the administration:

●     Action should be taken under mob lynching sections rather than considering it a simple assault.

●     Sections 109, 190, and 196(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) must be strictly followed.

●     The victim should receive appropriate compensation and security.

This incident is yet another occurrence just days after the Athar Hussain lynching case in the state. It places a major question mark on the safety of minorities and migrant labourers in Bihar, while also pointing toward rising communal tension in the state.

A detailed report on the action taken by the administration is currently awaited. It also remains to be seen what steps will be taken against the culprits and what preventive measures will be implemented, especially after the Minority Commission’s intervention, to stop such incidents in the future.

Zeeshan Akhtar Quasmi, is an independent journalist from Bihar and a student at Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi. The views are personal.