Special Correspondent: A Muslim passenger from Bihar has alleged that he was brutally assaulted on a train near Mughalsarai in Uttar Pradesh after being targeted because of his religious identity, raising fresh concerns over passenger safety and communal violence on India’s railways. The victim, Mohammad Mazhar Hussain, a resident of Bhagalpur district in Bihar, said he was travelling home after visiting the Kachaucha Sharif shrine in Ambedkar Nagar district when he was attacked by a group of unidentified men inside a general coach of the Varanasi-Asansol MEMU Express.

According to Hussain, a businessman, the incident took place in the early hours of 26 June while the train stopped at a station or halt near Mughalsarai. Speaking about the incident, Hussain said he had travelled to Uttar Pradesh on 24 June for a pilgrimage and was returning to Bihar after completing his visit. He had purchased a general-class ticket and was travelling in a general compartment. Recounting the incident, Hussain alleged that at around 4:15 am he was washing his face near the wash basin inside the coach when a group of four to five young men entered the compartment shouting religious slogans.

He claimed that the men immediately began assaulting him.“Some boys entered the coach raising slogans. Without any argument or dispute, they started attacking me,” Hussain alleged. According to the victim, he initially tried to defend himself and resisted the attackers. However, he said he was soon overwhelmed by the group. Hussain further alleged that one of the attackers struck him on the head with a heavy object, possibly a stone, causing serious injuries.

“My head started bleeding heavily. After that, I lost consciousness and collapsed inside the train,” he said. The businessman stated that only a handful of passengers were present in the compartment at the time, making it difficult for anyone to intervene effectively. When he regained consciousness, Hussain found himself in a government hospital. He said railway personnel and Government Railway Police (GRP) officials had transported him for medical treatment after discovering him unconscious and injured.

The victim confirmed that police officers later recorded his statement and informed his family members about the incident. Hussain, who operates a travel business in Bhagalpur and arranges tickets for Haj and Umrah pilgrims, expressed shock that he was allegedly targeted because of his appearance. “I was travelling peacefully. There was no quarrel, no argument and no dispute with anyone. I believe I was targeted because I wore a beard and a cap,” he said. He added that the incident had left him deeply disturbed