Minor Hindu Boy Assaulted and Forced to Chant Islamic Slogans by Classmates [Motipur, Bihar]

(Reported as seen)

In a disturbing incident of religious radicalization, a minor Hindu boy in Nariar village, Motipur block, Muzaffarpur district, Bihar, was brutally assaulted by his Muslim classmates. The attackers forced him to chant “Allahu Akbar” and “Miyan Zindabad” while recording the ordeal on video, which later went viral, sparking outrage within the Hindu community.

The incident took place last week and involved the minor being beaten and coerced into chanting slogans glorifying the Muslim community and Islam. The video, widely circulated on social media, shows the attackers demanding the victim to say “Allahu Akbar” and “Miyan zindabad,” with “Miyan” being a term commonly used for Muslims.

Identified attackers Mohammed Mannu and Mohammed Sahil also humiliated the boy by making him lick their spit and hurling abuses at his Kurmi caste, which is categorized as a backward caste in Bihar.

Following the public uproar, Bihar police issued a statement on their social media account, confirming that a case had been filed against the attackers. However, the statement lacked specific details on the actions taken against the culprits.

Lalan Kumar Yadav, the head (mukhiya) of the gram panchayat under which Nariar village falls, reported that the village is predominantly inhabited by Kurmi families, with approximately 10 Muslim families residing there. He refrained from sharing the contact details of the victim’s father, noting that the family is currently traumatized. The victim’s father is an autorickshaw driver, indicative of the family’s modest means.

Despite the incident occurring over a week ago, paramilitary forces remain deployed in the area to prevent potential Hindu-Muslim clashes. The assault stemmed from an argument during a cricket match involving students from the same school.

The victim suffered severe injuries and was referred to a district hospital after initial treatment. This incident ironically coincided with the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) releasing a statement expressing concerns about the state of religious freedom in India, highlighting targeted attacks on religious minorities, primarily Muslims and Christians.

India has previously criticized the USCIRF’s assessments, with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken citing an increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, and demolitions of homes and places of worship for minority faith communities in India.

This incident underscores the urgent need for effective measures to protect vulnerable communities and promote religious tolerance, ensuring that such acts of violence and coercion are promptly and justly addressed.