Hindu Extremists Beat Bihar Imam to Death, Throw Him Off Train

On the night of April 26, 2026, a shocking incident unfolded on a train journey in Uttar Pradesh. Imam Tausif Raza Mazhari, a cleric from Bihar, was allegedly assaulted by fellow passengers and thrown off the train near Bareilly. His body was discovered the following morning beside the railway tracks. The autopsy revealed devastating injuries, including fractures to all his ribs, a skull fracture, and multiple bruises across his body. The case has since become a symbol of the growing insecurity faced by Muslims in India.

Last Calls and Crucial Evidence

According to his family, Tausif made several desperate phone calls to his wife, Tabassum, shortly before his death. In one audio recording lasting 29 seconds, he can be heard pleading for help, saying that passengers were beating him and urging her to call the police. Tabassum later recounted that during a video call, she saw a man pulling his collar and slapping him repeatedly before the screen went black. These recordings have been described as crucial evidence contradicting the police’s initial claim that his death was accidental.

The Family’s Account and Grief

Tausif had been returning home after attending the annual Urs celebrations in Bareilly. A bloodstained train ticket was found in his pocket, marking his journey from Bareilly Junction to Siwan Junction in Bihar. Married only two years earlier, he left behind a grieving wife and family who insist he was murdered in a communal attack. His father, Hussain, recalled receiving a call from someone claiming to be a police officer, who first said his son was in serious condition, then later admitted he was dead. His brother Tauhid, after seeing the body, declared that the injuries clearly pointed to murder, not an accident.

Autopsy Findings

The autopsy report, signed by Dr. Ashutosh Parashari at the Bareilly Postmortem House, listed five major injuries, including a deep head laceration, bruises on the shoulder and arm, and a massive chest bruise. It also confirmed ruptures to both lungs and fractures of the sternum and ribs. The cause of death was recorded as hemorrhagic shock and coma, with all injuries classified as ante‑mortem, meaning they occurred before death.

Police Response and Jurisdiction

Despite this evidence, Bareilly Police initially dismissed reports of assault as “misleading.” They claimed Tausif had been sitting near the train door due to heat, fell asleep, and accidentally lost his balance, leading to fatal injuries. Later, Superintendent of Police Manush Parekh acknowledged the family’s suspicions and stated that legal proceedings would begin if a formal complaint was filed. He emphasized that the case fell under the jurisdiction of the Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force.

Political Outrage and Calls for Justice

The incident has sparked political and social outrage. Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi demanded a thorough investigation from the Railway Minister. The All India Muslim Jamaat wrote to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, requesting a CBI probe, warning that communal violence on trains undermines India’s democratic fabric. Their statement recalled earlier tragedies, including the 2023 killing of three Muslim passengers by an RPF constable on the Jaipur‑Mumbai Express.

The Widow’s Accusation

Tabassum, the widow, has publicly accused Hindu extremists of killing her husband in a planned attack. She pointed out that his mobile phone remained intact, which she believes disproves the police’s claim of an accidental fall. The family is now preparing to file a formal complaint, hoping for justice in a system where Muslim victims often struggle to see accountability.

A Symbol of Communal Crisis

The death of Imam Tausif Raza Mazhari is not just a personal tragedy but a stark reminder of the communal tensions that continue to plague India. His final cries for help, preserved in audio, expose the horror of a man beaten to death while fellow passengers looked on. Whether justice will be delivered remains uncertain, but the case has already become a symbol of India’s deepening crisis of religious violence.

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Sources

The Indian Express – “Assaulted, thrown off train: Family of Bihar cleric found dead in Bareilly allege foul play.”

Times of India – “Bihar imam ‘thrashed, pushed’ from train to die in Bareilly”

The Siasat Daily – “Bihar imam beaten, thrown from train; wife claims killed over appearance”