A 60-year-old Muslim vegetable vendor was beaten to death in Bihar’s Jehanabad district after a dispute with a Nagar Panchayat toll collector over Rs 5, eyewitnesses said. The incident took place at Kako market on Tuesday evening and has since sparked widespread outrage on social media.
The victim, Mohammad Mohsin, had been selling vegetables in Kako market for nearly four decades. Every day, he would walk about 3 km from his home in Maniama Panchayat, spread out his vegetables on a roadside corner of a market aread, and earn just enough to feed his family. His modest income raised eight children — three sons and five daughters — all of whom he supported through his daily vegetable trade.
According to his son, Mohsin was asked to pay Rs 20 as a daily market fee by Nagar Panchayat’s tax collectors. He reportedly explained that sales had not yet picked up and offered to pay Rs 15, requesting that the remaining Rs 5 be collected later.
An altercation followed with the fee collector, identified as Vicky Patel, a Nagar Palika cleaning staff supervisor who was collecting tolls on behalf of contractor Aditya Kumar.
“The incident has triggered outrage among Muslim community members, many of whom have questioned the apathy of bystanders and the authorities. “Is a human life worth less than Rs 5? What kind of society have we become where people continue shopping while a man lies dead in front of them?” wrote a political leader Muzammil Imam on social media.
Witnesses allege that Patel struck Mohsin with heavy iron weights used for measuring vegetables, hitting 5 continued blows on his head and chest. Mohsin collapsed and died within minutes. Disturbingly, his body remained unattended in the busy market for hours as daily business continued.
His family members remember Mohsin as a quiet, hardworking man. “He would sit silently, sell his vegetables, and go home. He never harmed anyone. To think he lost his life over Rs 5 is heartbreaking,” his son told The Observer Post.
Mohsin’s eldest son, Mohammad Guddu, a daily wage laborer, now bears the responsibility of supporting the family. His wife, Jameela Khatoon, was so grief-stricken upon hearing the news that she fainted and had to be admitted to hospital.
Local community members have demanded Patel’s immediate arrest. “This is not just about a murder. It is about the erosion of humanity. If society chooses silence today, the same fate could befall anyone tomorrow,” said activist Tabish Warsi from Kako.
Locals say he is politically connected, currently linked to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and was earlier associated with Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) as a block-level leader. His political clout, they allege, allowed him to operate unchecked in the market.
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Kako has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for Mohsin’s family. But local Muslim leaders say money cannot address the deeper issue. “The contractor system itself is flawed,” said Warsi. “It turns poor vendors into easy targets for extortion, while those with political links profit. Mohsin’s death is not just about Rs 5, it is about systemic exploitation.”
Police said they have taken cognizance of the incident. An FIR has been registered “We are verifying the details. The accused will be arrested soon,” a Jehanabad officer told The Observer Post reporter.
