Man Lynched on Suspicion of Cattle Theft in Bihar's Araria District

New Delhi: A 50-year-old Muslim man was lynched by a mob on suspicion of stealing cattle in Bihar's Araria district.

While the incident took place on Wednesday, December 8, it only came to light on December 10.

Indian Express has reported that a resident of the Bhavanipur village raised an alarm after he allegedly spotted men stealing buffaloes and bullocks owned by another villager.

Fulkaha police station in-charge Nagina Kumar told the news outlet that villagers gave chase to the men, one of whom allegedly drew a gun and fired in the air to ward away the advancing villagers.

"However, while others managed to flee the spot taking advantage of the fog, [neighbouring Supaul district resident] Mohammed Siddiqui was caught and beaten up by the people with wooden sticks and fists," the policeman said.

The mob was 100-strong. No arrests have taken place yet.

The Hindu has reported villagers having said that cattle thieves often sell stolen cattle to slaughter houses in areas bordering Nepal.

In June of this year, a 30-year-old Muslim man was allegedly lynched by a mob in Araria district on suspicion of theft. A resident of Kursail village in Jokihat, Ismail was severely beaten by some villagers in the neighbouring Chakai village early in the morning. His family had refuted the claim that he had engaged in thievery.

In 2019, a 44-year-old man was lynched in Araria based on a suspicion of cattle theft. In 2018, another mob lynching had been reported from Araria – also apparently because of ‘cattle theft’ rumours.

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