Madhubani: A Muslim labourer suffered a brutal assault in Bihar’s Madhubani district after attackers labelled him a Bangladeshi national. The victim, Noorshed Alam, sustained serious injuries and remains under medical care. The attack has raised alarm over mob violence driven by false claims of nationality.
According to the victim, the assault began after he hesitated while chanting slogans. He said assailants asked him to shout Jai Shri Ram. His hesitation triggered suspicion and violence. He said attackers repeatedly questioned his nationality during the assault. He described the incident as targeted violence linked to his Muslim identity.
Videos circulating online show one attacker holding Alam’s mobile phone and claiming it contained numbers from Pakistan and Bangladesh. The attacker presented this as proof of foreign origin. Police later clarified no objectionable material was found on the device. Authorities confirmed Alam holds Indian citizenship and belongs to Supaul district in Bihar.
Police registered a first information report on charges of attempt to murder. Madhubani Superintendent of Police Yogendra Kumar said officers acted swiftly. He said police identified two named accused and formed a special team to arrest others involved in the attack. He assured arrests would follow soon.
The incident renewed concern over mob assaults driven by fabricated allegations of illegal migration. Recent weeks saw similar violence elsewhere. In Palakkad, attackers lynched a Dalit migrant worker after branding him a thief and questioning his nationality. Another viral clip showed a police officer intimidating Muslim residents by claiming a device could identify illegal immigrants. The officer questioned a man from Araria district while placing a phone on his back.
Rights observers warn such incidents erode rule of law and endanger minorities. Police reiterated verification must rely on evidence and lawful procedure, not suspicion or coercion.
