The Government Railway Police (GRP) has arrested a 30-year-old man, identified as Pankaj Lodhi, in connection with the alleged assault and killing of Maulana Tousif Raza Mazhari, who was reportedly pushed from a moving train in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district.
Maulana Tousif Raza Mazhari, a resident of Bihar’s Kishanganj district, had been returning home after attending the Urs-e-Tajushsharia event in Bareilly on April 26 when the incident took place. Initially, police treated the case as an accidental fall from the train, but fresh evidence and an investigation later pointed towards an alleged criminal act.
Police Say Altercation Led to Cleric’s Death
According to investigators, the accused was allegedly intoxicated and falsely accused the cleric of stealing a mobile phone, which triggered an argument inside the train. Police said the confrontation escalated and allegedly ended with Maulana Tousif being pushed out of the moving train, leading to his death.
Officials further claimed that after the incident, Lodhi tried to mislead investigators by introducing himself as “Ahmed.” He also allegedly disposed of his mobile phone and wallet in an attempt to hide his identity and destroy evidence.
Police said the breakthrough came after reviewing nearly 200 CCTV footage clips and questioning over 200 passengers linked to the train journey.
Family Raised Questions Over “Accident” Theory
The case had sparked outrage after the deceased’s family questioned the police’s initial claim that Maulana Tousif had accidentally fallen from the train. Concerns intensified after an audio message reportedly surfaced in which the cleric’s wife, Tabassum, claimed her husband had informed her over the phone about being assaulted during the journey.
The post-mortem report, which reportedly showed serious injury marks on the cleric’s body, strengthened suspicions of foul play and pushed investigators to widen the scope of the inquiry.
A complaint was later filed by the family, following which a formal FIR was registered and the investigation intensified.
Religious Group Demands Strict Action
Members of Jamaat Raza-e-Mustafa, who had earlier raised the matter with human rights bodies, welcomed the arrest but demanded strict punishment.
Farman Mian, national general secretary of the organisation, said, “This is not just the death of one person but also a serious issue related to passenger safety in trains. Railways must ensure better security so that such incidents do not happen again.”
After the arrest, the deceased cleric’s wife, brother and members of the organisation reached the GRP police station and demanded a fair investigation and strict action against all those involved.
Probe Into Possible Involvement of Others
Police said the investigation is still ongoing and the role of other people is also being examined based on the accused’s questioning.
Officials stated that they are trying to connect all parts of the incident and identify whether anyone else assisted in the alleged crime.
Authorities said more revelations may emerge as the investigation progresses.
