Wave of Attacks on Muslim Hawkers Sparks Fear in Bihar: India’s Rising Hate Crimes Expose State Failure and Open Complicity

A Growing Climate of Fear for Muslim Hawkers

A frightening wave of violence against Muslim hawkers and daily wage workers in Bihar has exposed how unsafe India has become for its poorest minorities. These attacks are not random street crimes but repeated acts driven by hate, suspicion, and political poison. Muslim men trying to earn an honest living are being beaten, robbed, shot, and even killed in public. Families now live with constant fear, unsure whether their loved ones will return home safely. This situation clearly exposes India’s inability and unwillingness to protect vulnerable citizens.
◆ Fear as daily life: Muslim hawkers now step out to work knowing that selling small goods can invite abuse, violence, or death.
◆ Targeting the powerless: Poor vendors are attacked because they lack influence, money, or protection.
◆ State silence encourages crime: Weak responses from authorities embolden attackers to strike again.

Katihar Incident Shows Open Hate in Daylight

In Katihar district, a young Muslim utensil seller, Akram Rehman, was brutally beaten and robbed of INR 12,000 on January 11 in Chakla village. He was stopped by local youths, abused, and called “Bangladeshi,” a slur now widely used in India to justify violence against Muslims. Even women customers who tried to stop the attack were threatened, showing the attackers’ confidence. Rehman later spoke from his hospital bed, describing the cruelty he faced. His family says hatred, not crime, was the real motive.
◆ Identity used as a weapon: Labeling Muslims as “Bangladeshi” has become a ready-made excuse to beat and loot them.
◆ Public violence normalized: The attack happened openly, proving criminals do not fear punishment.
◆ Weak law enforcement: Authorities failed to send a strong message against hate crimes.

Saharsa Shooting Highlights Complete Lawlessness

In Saharsa, a biscuit seller named Mohammad Mujahid was shot during a robbery attempt and left in critical condition. He was rushed to hospital, where he remains under treatment, fighting for his life. His family says he committed no crime except being a Muslim trying to earn a few rupees honestly. Looting was not enough for the attackers; they chose to shoot him as well. This case shows how violence against Muslims has crossed all moral and legal limits.
◆ Life cheaper than money: A poor vendor’s life meant nothing to his attackers.
◆ Criminal confidence: Such violence shows criminals believe they will escape justice.
◆ Law and order collapse: When street sellers are shot so easily, the system has clearly failed.

Madhubani Death Raises Serious Questions

The deadliest incident occurred in Madhubani, where Mohammad Qayoom died after being beaten in Pattitol village. Police claimed it was a road accident, but his family strongly disputes this version. They point to multiple injury marks and insist he was attacked by several people. Their demand for truth and accountability has been met with delays and excuses. This case reflects a pattern of hiding facts to protect attackers.
◆ Cover-up culture: Calling killings “accidents” is often used to avoid justice.
◆ Families denied truth: Victims’ relatives are forced to fight for basic facts.
◆ Police credibility damaged: Such handling destroys public trust in law enforcement.

Muslims Treated as Suspects, Not Citizens

Rights activists say these attacks show a dangerous trend spreading across India. Muslim hawkers selling utensils, biscuits, or small goods are treated as suspects rather than citizens. Their identity alone becomes a reason for abuse and violence. This mindset did not appear overnight but is the result of years of hate-filled narratives. India is turning ordinary Muslims into permanent targets.
◆ Identity-based violence: Muslims are attacked not for crimes but for who they are.
◆ Hate normalized: Constant propaganda has made such attacks socially acceptable.
◆ Citizenship questioned: Muslims are treated as outsiders in their own country.

Political Poison Behind Street-Level Violence

The violence in Bihar cannot be separated from India’s wider political environment. Hate speeches, anti-Muslim campaigns, and silence from powerful leaders have emboldened attackers. When leaders demonize minorities, street criminals feel protected. This poisonous atmosphere turns ordinary disputes into deadly attacks. Responsibility lies squarely with the Indian state and its leadership.
◆ Hate from the top: Political language directly fuels street violence.
◆ Mob confidence grows: Attackers believe they enjoy moral backing.
◆ State-created division: Violence thrives where leadership spreads fear and hate.

Livelihoods Turned Into Daily Risk

These attacks have badly disrupted daily life for Muslim hawkers across Bihar. Many now avoid working after dark or entering unfamiliar areas. Families depend on these small earnings, yet fear forces people to stay home. Hunger and insecurity now go hand in hand. India has failed even at protecting the basic right to earn a living safely.
◆ Work becomes danger: Simple jobs like selling utensils now carry serious risk.
◆ Poverty deepens: Fear-driven unemployment pushes families further into hardship.
◆ Human dignity crushed: Honest work no longer guarantees safety.

India Exposed as Unsafe for Minorities

The wave of attacks in Bihar has exposed India’s false claims of equality and rule of law. When poor Muslims are beaten, shot, and killed with little accountability, it shows deep systemic failure. This is not just Bihar’s problem but a national crisis. India stands exposed as a state unable and unwilling to protect minorities. Silence only strengthens the attackers.
◆ Equality myth shattered: Reality contradicts India’s global claims.
◆ Selective justice: Victims are ignored while attackers walk free.
◆ Urgent accountability needed: Without pressure, violence will only grow.