Muslim man tied to pole, beaten over beef charge in India
Viral video of assault over alleged beef possession raises alarm over vigilante violence, religious targeting, and erosion of rule of law
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A Muslim man was publicly assaulted by a mob in eastern India’s Bihar state after being accused of carrying beef, in an incident that has intensified concerns over vigilante violence and religious targeting under majoritarian politics.
The assault took place on Saturday in Gopalganj district, where the victim, Ahmed Azad, was intercepted while travelling on a motorbike. Videos recorded on mobile phones and widely circulated on social media show him tied to a roadside electric pole and beaten by a group of men as onlookers watched.
According to accounts from people present, Azad — a resident of a neighboring district — was stopped by men allegedly linked to Hindu nationalist groups. He was searched without any apparent legal authority after the group claimed to have found meat they described as illegal. As the crowd grew, the man was restrained and assaulted in public, despite no evidence being presented in the footage to substantiate the accusations.
In the viral clips, voices can be heard accusing Azad of carrying beef and suggesting malicious intent because of a nearby Hindu place of worship. Other claims, including that the motorbike was stolen, are also made without proof. No official verification of these allegations has been released.
Residents told local media that the beating continued for an extended period before police arrived. Witnesses described a climate of fear, saying bystanders were reluctant to intervene as the violence unfolded in full view of the public.
Police later reached the scene, removed Azad from the crowd and took him into custody. Authorities seized the motorbike and the meat allegedly found in his possession and said a legal process had been initiated.
Azad was subsequently sent to judicial custody. Police have said the case remains under investigation, but have not publicly clarified why members of the mob were not immediately detained.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation online, including from members of India’s majority community, who questioned how private groups could assume the roles of law enforcement and judiciary.
The episode has also heightened anxiety among Muslims in the region, many of whom say accusations linked to beef consumption or transport have increasingly become triggers for violence.
Rights advocates say the assault reflects a broader pattern in parts of India, where Muslims are subjected to public punishment on the basis of suspicion rather than evidence.
They argue that such acts are enabled by ideological narratives that portray Muslims as inherent threats, particularly in states governed by parties aligned with Hindu nationalist ideology.
Beef-related vigilantism has been a recurring flashpoint in India over the past decade, with self-styled groups enforcing dietary norms associated with Hindu majoritarian beliefs. Analysts note that delayed or selective accountability in such cases has contributed to a growing sense of impunity.
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