Sensitive images are making the rounds, alleging that four Muslim men were killed by a Hindu mob in an act of religious hate crime in Aurangabad, Bihar.

Verified accounts on twitter, including @AsianDigest tweeted “Trigger warning: Bihar india, 4 Muslim men were lynched to death by a hindu mob, they further celebrated the lynching by dragging dead body on the streets. The Police has not taken any action against the murderers. #Islamophobic incident” on Jan 16, 2024. The tweet has received an about 14k views on X.

Trigger warning: Bihar india,

4 Muslim men were lynched to death by a hindu mob, they further celebrated the lynching by dragging dead body on the streets.
The Police has not taken any action against the murderers.#Islamophobic incident

pic.twitter.com/vcnzbR2Xhp

— Crime Reports India (@AsianDigest) January 15, 2024

Several other accounts, including @T_A_backup, @iamharunkhan, @TheObserverPost, @Millat_Times, @faizan0008, @AshrafFem, @MuslimSpaces, @WasimAkramTyagi, @IAMCHindi, @FizzaRizvi92, @chandnii__ made the same claim that in Aurangabad, four Muslim young people were brutally killed by a mob. Wakeel Ansari, Arman Ahmed, Mohammad Zahid Rain, and Chaman Mansoori were beaten to death according to the users. The archive can be read from above.

What is the Actual Truth About this Incident? : Fact

The truth is that these assertions are unfounded and fraudulent. The driver of the car stopped it in front of a Taitariya Mod store on January 15 in Aurangabad, Bihar. An argument erupted after the store owner objected to parking. Ram Sharan Chauhan, a local resident, was struck by a gun fired by one of the car’s occupants, who then instantly passed away. The drivers of the car were beaten by enraged onlookers who had gathered there. The other two, Vakil Ansari and Ajeet Sharma, suffered injuries and are receiving medical attention at the hospital. Mohd Mujahid, Charan Mansuri, and Mohd Ansari were beaten to death.Given that one of the passengers who was beaten was Hindu, the incident has no religious significance.

The official account of @police_aurangab tweeted “Update in the incident that took place today on 15/1/24 at Tetaria Mode under Navinagar police station… A total of four people have died in the incident, and two are undergoing treatment. FIRs have been registered in both the murder incidents and further action is being taken. FSL team has been called to collect evidence.” on Jan 15, 2024.

आज दिनांक 15/1/24 को नवीनगर थाना अंतर्गत तेतरिया मोड पर हुई घटना में अद्यत्तन… घटना में कुल चार व्यक्तियों की मृत्यु हुई है, एवं दो इलाजरत है। घटित दोनो हत्या की घटनाओं में प्राथमिकी दर्ज कर अग्रतर कारवाई की जा रही है। FSL टीम को साक्ष्य संकलन हेतु बुलाया गया है। pic.twitter.com/Gt1HCdmUQp

— Aurangabad(Bihar) Police (@police_aurangab) January 15, 2024

Further, @police_aurangab tweeted “Regarding the incident that occurred near Tetaria turn of Navinagar police station area on 15.01.24 :- , , #BiharPolice #aurangabadpolice #HainTaiyaarHum”

दिनांक-15.01.24 को नवीनगर थाना क्षेत्र के तेतरिया मोड़ के पास घटित घटना के संबंध में :-
.
.#BiharPolice #aurangabadpolice #HainTaiyaarHum pic.twitter.com/NFFyVPZv18

— Aurangabad(Bihar) Police (@police_aurangab) January 15, 2024

We also visited Siasat, which published an article on this incident on Jan 15, 2024 with the headline “Four killed over parking dispute in Bihar’s Aurangabad”. The article clarified the incident in details and it is clear that the incident has no communal angle related to it at all.

D-Intent’s Fact-Checking Results:

1535
ANALYSIS: Misleading

FACT: Sensitive visuals are being circulated claiming that a Hindu mob lynched four Muslim men to death in a religious hate crime incident in Aurangabad, Bihar. The fact is that these claims are fake and baseless. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/UnsLK7Yh7y

— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) January 15, 2024

Intent:

Extremists are circulating sensitive visuals with false claims to incite communal violence. Sensitive visuals are being circulated claiming that a Hindu mob lynched four Muslim men to death in a religious hate crime incident in Aurangabad, Bihar. In actuality, these assertions are unfounded and fraudulent. The driver of the car stopped it in front of a Taitariya Mod shop on January 15 in Aurangabad, Bihar. There was a heated exchange after the shopkeeper objected to parking. A bystander, identified as local resident Ram Sharan Chauhan, was struck by a bullet fired by one of the car’s occupants, who instantly passed away. The drivers of the car were beaten by enraged onlookers who had gathered at the scene. Three people were killed by beatings: Mohd Mujahid, Charan Mansuri, and Mohd Ansari; the other two, Vakil Ansari and Ajeet Sharma, suffered injuries and are receiving medical attention at the hospital. Since one of the assaulted passengers was Hindu, the incident has no religious significance.

Conclusion:

Claim : In a case of religious hate crime in Aurangabad, Bihar, sensitive images are circulating, purporting to show that a Hindu mob killed four Muslim men.

Fact : The incident occurred on 15th January in Aurangabad, Bihar, when the driver stopped a car in front of a shop in Taitariya Mod. The shopkeeper objected to car parking, leading to a heated exchange. One of the occupants of the car whipped out a gun and fired a shot which hit a bystander identified as local resident Ram Sharan Chauhan,who died on the spot. Angry onlookers gathered at the spot and thrashed the car occupants. Mohd Mujahid,Charan Mansuri, and Mohd Ansari were beaten to death, and the other two,Vakil Ansari & Ajeet Sharma,sustained injuries & is being treated at the hospital. The incident has nothing to do with religion,as one of the beaten passengers was Hindu as well.

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