Muslim passenger suffers religious hate attack on Indian train
Businessman from Bihar says mob attacked him on train in Uttar Pradesh after identifying him as Muslim, leaving him seriously injured and unconscious
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A Muslim businessman has alleged that he was the victim of a religiously motivated hate attack aboard a passenger train in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh after a group of men allegedly identified him by his beard and skullcap and assaulted him without provocation.
The victim, Mohammad Mazhar Hussain, from Bhagalpur district in the neighboring state of Bihar, said the attack occurred aboard the Varanasi-Asansol MEMU Express while he was returning home from a pilgrimage to the Kachaucha Sharif Sufi shrine in Ambedkar Nagar district.
According to Hussain, the incident took place in the early hours of June 26 when the train was near Mughalsarai, a major railway junction in eastern Uttar Pradesh. He said he was washing his face inside a general-class coach when four or five young men entered the compartment shouting religious slogans before turning their attention toward him.
“There was no argument or dispute. They started beating me as soon as they entered,” Hussain alleged.
He said he initially tried to defend himself but was outnumbered. According to the businessman, one of the attackers struck him on the head with what he believed was a stone or another heavy object, causing severe bleeding before he lost consciousness.
When he regained consciousness, Hussain said he was in a government hospital after railway personnel and officers from the Government Railway Police transported him for medical treatment. Police later recorded his statement and informed his family about the incident.
Hussain, who runs a travel agency in Bhagalpur that arranges travel for Haj and Umrah pilgrims, believes he was singled out because he visibly appeared to be Muslim.
“I was travelling peacefully. There was no quarrel or disagreement with anyone. I believe I was targeted because I wore a beard and a cap,” he said.
He also alleged that investigators have shown little urgency in identifying or arresting those responsible and accused police of attempting to downplay the attack. Authorities had not publicly responded to those allegations or announced any arrests when the claims became public.
The alleged assault comes amid continuing concerns over attacks targeting Muslims in India, where rights organizations have documented incidents in which people have been assaulted after being identified through religious clothing, appearance or Islamic symbols.
Such attacks have fueled growing concerns about the safety of religious minorities in public spaces, including trains, buses and highways.
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