Elderly vendor beaten to death in Bihar over ₹5 dispute, accused still absconding

September 22, 2025 by News Desk

A 70-year-old Muslim vegetable vendor, Mohammed Mohsin, was beaten to death in broad daylight at Kako village market on Wednesday, September 18, 2025, following a dispute over a ₹5 shortfall in toll payment.

Police said Mohsin had gone to the market with his minor grandson when the accused, identified as Vicky Patel, demanded ₹15 as toll. Mohsin, carrying only ₹10, pleaded for time to pay the remaining amount. Witnesses told police that Patel, angered by the refusal, struck Mohsin repeatedly with a dumbbell on his stomach and head, killing him on the spot.

The assault unfolded in full view of the grandson and other onlookers, but no one intervened. Locals allege the victim’s body lay unattended in the market for hours, raising questions about public apathy and the effectiveness of law enforcement.

A case of murder has been registered under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), though Patel remains absconding. The delay in arrest has sparked criticism of the police response.

Political reactions have added to the controversy after photos surfaced showing the accused alongside senior BJP leaders, including Bihar’s Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha. Opposition leaders have seized on the images, alleging political patronage.

Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi called the killing a grim example of Bihar’s “real Jungle Raj,” writing on X: “A vegetable vendor was murdered over five rupees. BJP’s allies are not able to govern Bihar.”

The incident has reignited debates on rising intolerance, governance failures, and the vulnerability of ordinary citizens to violent disputes. Mohsin’s family, left devastated, has demanded swift justice as pressure mounts on authorities to arrest Patel and restore public confidence.