The alleged murder of 50-year-old Mohammad Athar Hussain in Nawada marks the third reported incident of mob lynching in the southern Bihar district in 2025. Hussain, a garment seller from Gagan Diwan village in the Laheri police station area of Bihar Sharif in Nalanda, was brutally attacked by a mob on December 5, succumbing to his injuries on December 12. Previous incidents reported in February and August were not identified as communal in nature.
Nawada, established as a district in 1973, consists of five constituencies: Rajauli, Hisua, Nawada, Govindpur, and Warsaliganj. The district has a religious demographic of approximately 88.53% Hindus and 11% Muslims, with over 250,000 residents belonging to religious minorities.
Hussain lived with his in-laws in Nawada and sold garments by bicycle. On December 5, while seeking directions to a repair shop for a punctured tire, he was confronted by a group of men in Bhattapar village of Noh block. Family members reported that after learning Hussain was Muslim, the group robbed him of Rs 16,000 to Rs 18,000 before attacking him.
In a video recorded before his death, Hussain detailed the horrific treatment he was subjected to. “I had gone to Dumri to sell clothes and got a little late in returning home. It was around 8 pm. The harassment started just before Bhatta,” he recounted. After being robbed of his money, clothes, and bicycle, he was locked in a room. “They opened my pants to check if I was a miyaji. They poured petrol on me and beat me. After that, one boy cut my ear with pliers,” he explained.
Hussain later stated that someone he described as an “angel” came to his aid and called emergency services. Police arrived around 2:30 am, transporting him to the Roh Primary Health Centre, followed by Nawada Sadar Hospital and finally the Vardhman Institute of Medical Sciences in Pawapuri, where he died on December 12. Hussain is survived by his wife, Shabnam Parveen, and three minor children.
A case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). To date, eleven people have been arrested, including two minors; the adult suspects include individuals identified as Shri Yadav, Ranjan Kumar, Kedar Yadav, and others.
Shabnam Parveen alleged that police failed to inform the family about Hussain’s condition until she arrived at the hospital the following day and claimed he did not receive prompt medical treatment. A family member argued that timely access to better medical care could have saved Hussain’s life.
It has since come to light that one of the primary accused, Sikandar, had previously accused Hussain of theft, alleging that he had stolen valuable items from his home. Shabnam dismissed these claims as false, while Ranjan Kumar, the local police station in-charge, stated that they are investigating all aspects of the case.
Community members in Nawada expressed a notable sense of fear following the incident. A prominent political figure, speaking anonymously, described Hussain’s killing as the first communal hate crime in a long time, indicating that the atmosphere could lead to such incidents. The politician suggested that the mob’s actions could have been influenced by intoxication.
Hussain’s alleged lynching is the third such event recorded this year in Nawada. On August 28, an elderly couple was assaulted in Hisua block over accusations of witchcraft, which led to the husband’s death. Earlier, on February 26, a mob attacked two young men under suspicion of theft, resulting in one fatality.
Nawada SP Abhinav Dhiman dismissed concerns about a growing mob mentality in the district, labeling these incidents as isolated events. He pointed out that the victims were suspected of theft or other wrongdoing. According to Dhiman, the police respond to such situations swiftly once notified, emphasizing that there are measures in place to handle occurrences of mob violence. He acknowledged the difficulty in anticipating these events and underscored the necessity for community awareness and education.
Local journalists noted that crime rates in Nawada are high, often escalating swiftly. They suggested that a lack of understanding regarding law enforcement contributes to vigilante justice. The political leader reiterated that police efforts in responding to the incidents have been timely and effective.
This report originally appeared in Alt News.
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