An incident in Katihar district, Bihar, involved the assault and robbery of a street vendor, Akmal Hussain, accused of being a Bangladeshi. Hussain, a resident of Simaria village, was attacked while vending utensils in Chakla village on January 11. Two men on a bicycle verbally abused him, accusing him of being an “outsider” and a “Bangladeshi,” before assaulting him and stealing Rs 12,000.
Hussain reported the incident to the Pothiya police station, naming two individuals as the assailants. Kodha SDPO Ranjan Kumar confirmed the complaint, stating that the police have identified the accused and are investigating the matter. Mohammad Sagir, National President of the Shershahwadi Vikas Manch, expressed concern over the increasing attacks on the Shershahwadi community, demanding strict action against the perpetrators.
The assault has raised alarms about identity-based violence and the security of street vendors in the area. Another similar incident occurred in Madhubani, where a laborer was reportedly assaulted over a comparable issue.
