A Muslim labourer was brutally assaulted in Madhubani district after being labelled a “Bangladeshi” by a group of assailants.
The victim, Noorshed Alam, sustained serious injuries in the attack.
The accused allegedly claimed that Alam had phone numbers from Pakistan and Bangladesh stored on his mobile phone.
One of the videos of the assault shows an attacker holding the victim’s phone and claiming it contained Pakistan and Bangladesh phone numbers as “proof” that the victim was a foreign national. However, the police later clarified that no objectionable material was found on the device.
The victim, Noorshed Alam, who was seen with his head bandaged and visible injuries including bruises and swelling, said the attack began after he was unable to fully chant certain slogans.
He said that he was asked to shout “Jai Shri Ram,” and that his hesitation led to suspicion and violence.
Noorshed said he believes the assault was targeted and motivated by his Muslim identity, adding that he was beaten while being repeatedly questioned about his nationality.
In an official statement, the police confirmed that the victim is a resident of Supaul district, dismissing claims that he was a foreign national.
An FIR has been registered in connection with the assault on charges of attempt to murder.
Providing details, Yogendra Kumar, Madhubani SP, said the police had taken swift action in the case.
“An FIR has been registered against the accused. So far, two named accused have been identified, and a special team has been formed to apprehend the remaining persons involved, who will be arrested soon,” he said.
The incident has triggered concern over mob violence fuelled by false allegations of nationality, even as police reiterated that the victim is an Indian citizen from Bihar.
A few weeks ago in Palakkad, a Dalit migrant worker from Chhattisgarh was lynched after being labelled a thief and questioned by his attackers, allegedly linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party–Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, with one of them asking, “Are you a Bangladeshi?”, as seen in a video of the assault.
In another incident, a viral video showed a police officer placing what appeared to be a smartphone on a Muslim man’s back and intimidating residents of a slum by claiming the device could identify “illegal immigrants.” “Are you Bangladeshi? The machine shows that you are, doesn’t it?” the officer is heard saying, as the man insists he is from Araria district.
The post Muslim labourer assaulted in Bihar after being labelled “Bangladeshi” appeared first on Maktoob media.
