Eight Arrested in Bihar Mob Lynching Case of Muslim Vendor

Arrests Made Following Assault on Cloth Vendor

Authorities have detained eight individuals linked to the brutal attack on a Muslim cloth vendor, who tragically succumbed to his injuries in Nawada district, Bihar, on Friday.

The victim, identified as Mohammad Athar Hussain from Gagan Diwan village, was selling clothes from his bicycle when he was assaulted on December 5 near Bhattapar village, as reported on Monday.

According to Hussain's brother, Mohammad Shakib Alam, a group of villagers confronted Hussain, demanding to know his name and occupation before launching their attack.

Following the incident, Hussain's wife, Shabnam Parveen, filed a complaint naming ten individuals, accusing them of assaulting her husband under the suspicion that he was a thief.

The police initiated a case on December 5, citing various charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including unlawful assembly, rioting, and grievous bodily harm, with murder charges added later.

On Saturday, Nawada's Superintendent of Police, Abhinav Dhiman, announced that a special team had apprehended four suspects within 24 hours of the complaint.

Further investigations led to the arrest of an additional four suspects on December 13, bringing the total number of arrests to eight, all of whom have been placed in judicial custody.

Efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining suspects involved in the incident.

In a video recorded post-attack, Hussain recounted how the assailants first questioned him, then robbed him of Rs 18,000 and physically assaulted him. He noted that the group eventually swelled to around 15 to 20 individuals.

Hussain also claimed that the mob stripped him to inspect his private parts and branded him with a heated iron rod.

Initially, he was taken to a primary health center in Roh, later referred to Nawada Sadar Hospital, and ultimately transferred to Pawapuri VIMS, where he passed away on Friday night.

Additionally, a counter-complaint from one of the accused, Sikandar Yadav, alleged that Hussain attempted burglary on the night of the attack, which the police are currently investigating.