A video depicting a mob lynching has been widely circulated by radical Islamists on a social media platform (formerly Twitter, now referred to as X). The video alleges that four Muslim youths in Aurangabad, Bihar, were subjected to severe beating. As per the claim amidst the attack, one of the individuals being assaulted identified himself as Mohit Sharma, resulting in the crowd deciding not to harm him.
Islamist Harun Khan tweeted, ‘Bihar- Four Muslim youth were brutally béaten to death by a Mob in Aurangabad. When the Hindu mob asked his name, a Hindu youth named “Mohit Sharma” was let go. And Arman Ahmed, Mohammad Zahid Rain, Wakeel Ansari and Chaman Mansoori were béaten to death.’
Bihar- Four Muslim youth were brutally béaten to death by a Mob in Aurangabad.
— هارون خان (@iamharunkhan) January 15, 2024
When the Hindu mob asked his name, a Hindu youth named "Mohit Sharma" was let go.
And Arman Ahmed, Mohammad Zahid Rain, Wakeel Ansari and Chaman Mansoori were béaten to death. pic.twitter.com/Ql6H3IggPP
Radical Islamist Abdul Qadir wrote on X, ‘The video is said to be from Aurangabad, Bihar, India, where a Hindutva mob is reported to have lynched four Muslim youths. It is mentioned that when the fifth person identified himself with a ‘Hindu name,’ his life was spared.’
🇮🇳 The video is said to be from Aurangabad, Bihar, India, where a Hindutva mob is reported to have lynched four Muslim youths. It is mentioned that when the fifth person identified himself with a 'Hindu name,' his life was spared. pic.twitter.com/HHdVvFk0m3
— Abdul Quadir – عبدالقادر (@Northistan) January 15, 2024
Radical Islamist Mohammad Zishan Rizvi wrote, ‘4 Muslim clients named Muslim were beaten to death. A case of mob lynching, four Muslim islanders were beaten to death by the mob. Five youths from Japla in Jharkhand were staying in the car at Kesariya More, when weapons were kept there and then the mob attacked them, one of them told his name to Mohit Sharma and the mob left him. And youth everywhere were killed thinking they were Muslims. The names of the murdered teenagers are, Arman Ahmed, Mohammad Zahid Raine, Advocate Ansari, Chaman Mansoori.’
🇮🇳 The video is said to be from Aurangabad, Bihar, India, where a Hindutva mob is reported to have lynched four Muslim youths. It is mentioned that when the fifth person identified himself with a 'Hindu name,' his life was spared. pic.twitter.com/HHdVvFk0m3
— Abdul Quadir – عبدالقادر (@Northistan) January 15, 2024
The Observer Post tweeted, ‘Four Muslim youths were allegedly beaten to death by a mob in Aurangabad, Bihar. The victims identified as Arman Ahmed, Mohammad Zahid Raine, Wakeel Ansari, and Chaman Mansoori were attacked while standing near their car, resulting in their deaths. One of the youths told the mob that his name was Mohit Sharma and the mob let him go while the other four youths were killed.’
Four Muslim youths were allegedly beaten to death by a mob in Aurangabad, Bihar. The victims identified as Arman Ahmed, Mohammad Zahid Raine, Wakeel Ansari, and Chaman Mansoori were attacked while standing near their car, resulting in their deaths. One of the youths told the mob… pic.twitter.com/gvACDL8gyC
— The Observer Post (@TheObserverPost) January 15, 2024
In addition to this, several Islamist accounts on the X, including handles such as “The Muslim,” “Millat Times,” Ruheen B, A F Khan, Mohammad Hashim Ali, and Chandani, shared the video of the mob lynching, injecting a religious narrative into their commentary.
लोकेशन :औरंगाबाद,बिहार
— The Muslim (@TheMuslim786) January 15, 2024
4 मुस्लिम युवकों का नाम पूछकर पीट पीटकर मार दिया।
मोबलिंचिंग का मामला, भीड़ ने चार मुसलमान नौजवानों को पीट पीट कर मार दिया। झारखंड में जपला के रहने वाले पांच युवा केसरिया मोड़ पर अपनी गाड़ी लगाकर खड़े थे तभी वहां फायरिंग हुई और फिर भीड़ ने इन पांचों पर… pic.twitter.com/6ZmCb7pbU3
बिहार के औरंगाबाद में मोबलिंचिंग का मामला, भीड़ ने चार मुसलमान नौजवानों को पीट पीट कर मार दिया। झारखंड में जपला के रहने वाले पांच युवा केसरिया मोड़ पर अपनी गाड़ी लगाकर खड़े थे तभी वहां फायरिंग हुई और फिर भीड़ ने इन पांचों पर हमला कर दिया, इनमे से एक ने अपना नाम मोहित शर्मा बताया… pic.twitter.com/4AebD4M0JC
— Millat Times (@Millat_Times) January 15, 2024
बिहार के औरंगाबाद में मोबलिंचिंग का मामला, भीड़ ने चार मुसलमान नौजवानों को पीट पीट कर मार दिया। झारखंड में जपला के रहने वाले पांच युवा केसरिया मोड़ पर अपनी गाड़ी लगाकर खड़े थे तभी वहां फायरिंग हुई और फिर भीड़ ने इन पांचों पर हमला कर दिया, इनमे से एक ने अपना नाम मोहित शर्मा बताया… pic.twitter.com/F6IJdBddHu
— Ruheen Bi (@iamruheen) January 15, 2024
Fact Check
Our investigative efforts started with a scrutiny of media coverage pertinent to the incident, leading us to a report from The Times of India. According to the report, the situation in Bihar’s Aurangabad district escalated from a parking dispute to a tragic episode on Monday, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including an innocent bystander, with two others sustaining critical injuries.
The Times of India elaborated on the incident, stating, “A parking spat careened out of control and turned bloody in Bihar’s Aurangabad district on Monday, leaving four people, including a bystander, dead and two others critically injured.”
Our more comprehensive inquiry led us to a report by Dainik Bhaskar. As per the report, within the jurisdiction of the Nabinagar police station in Aurangabad, Bihar, a group of young individuals parked their car in front of a shop at Tetriya Mod. In response to a request to relocate the vehicle, one of them discharged a firearm at the shopkeeper. Tragically, Ramsharan Chauhan, who was seated adjacent to the shopkeeper, lost his life in the ensuing gunfire. The sound of gunshots attracted a gathering of onlookers who pulled the five occupants out of the car and subjected them to assault. The police, upon arrival, intervened to disperse the crowd; however, at that point, two individuals had already succumbed to their injuries. Subsequently, three others were transported to the hospital in critical condition, with one eventually succumbing to the injuries sustained. The report specifies that among the occupants of the car, Mohammad Anzar, Mohammad Arman, and Mohammad Mujahir lost their lives, while Mohammad Vakil and Ajit Sharma remain in critical condition.
Further in our investigation, we came across a post on X from the Aurangabad Police, where SP Swapna Maum Meshram confirmed the incident. She stated that the incident occurred in the context of a parking dispute. She informed that the police officials are inspecting the incident site. Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered, and the case is under investigation.
दिनांक-15.01.24 को नवीनगर थाना क्षेत्र के तेतरिया मोड़ के पास घटित घटना के संबंध में :-
— Aurangabad(Bihar) Police (@police_aurangab) January 15, 2024
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.#BiharPolice #aurangabadpolice #HainTaiyaarHum pic.twitter.com/NFFyVPZv18
Conclusion
The above-mentioned media reports make it clear that there is no communal angle to the mob lynching of Muslim youths in Bihar. The firing by the car occupants resulted in the death of Ramsharan Chauhan, leading to an enraged crowd assaulting the five occupants. None of them were spared even after revealing their identity when asked.
Claim | Muslim men were lynched to death by Hindu mobs because of their religious identity. |
Claimed by | Islamist X users. |
Fact Check | Misleading. |