Bihar Imam Tausif Raza Mazhari Found Dead Near Bareilly Railway Tracks, Family Alleges Assault

A 30-year-old imam and madrasa teacher from Bihar, Maulana Tausif Raza Mazhari, was found dead near railway tracks close to Bareilly railway station in Uttar Pradesh on Friday, according to multiple reports describing the incident as occurring while he was returning home.

“An imam in India has died after his family alleged he was beaten and thrown from a moving train in northern India, raising fresh concerns about Hindutva mob violence targeting minorities during travel”

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Kashmir Media Service says Mazhari, from Kishanganj district of Bihar, had travelled to Bareilly to attend the Urs of Tajusharia and was returning home when the incident occurred.

5Pillars

Madhyamam reports that his body was found near the railway tracks on Sunday night (April 26), while Muslim Mirror places the finding on April 27, 2026, in the Palpur Kamalpur area under Cantt police station limits.

The accounts also converge on the location being near Bareilly station and on the victim being identified as a madrasa teacher and imam, with ETV Bharat adding that he had recently started teaching at a madrasa in Siwan district.

ETV Bharat further states that his wife, Tabassum Khatoon, received a call around 9pm on Sunday night, and that she panicked and switched to a video call.

In the competing police version, Muslim Mirror says the Bareilly Police dismissed allegations of a targeted attack and described the death as “an unfortunate accident caused by a fall from a moving train,” while Maktoob and Kashmir Media Service emphasize the family’s rejection of that explanation.

The reports describe a dispute over what happened during the train journey, with police initially pointing to a fatal fall and the family alleging assault and being thrown from the train.

Kashmir Media Service says family members rejected initial claims by local police that the cleric may have fallen from a moving train, stating instead that he was assaulted and thrown off, and it links their claims to an audio recording of his final phone call to his wife, Tabassum.

Clarion India

In that recording, Kashmir Media Service quotes the imam saying, “They’ve caught me… they’re saying all sorts of abusive things,” while describing that a group of men had grabbed and beaten him inside the train compartment.

Maktoob similarly says an audio recording surfaced in which he is heard speaking to his wife, Tabassum, in a distressed and fearful voice, and it includes the plea, “Police ko call karo… police bhaiya help karo,” urging her to contact the police.

Muslim Mirror provides the police explanation in detail, saying that “Due to extreme heat, the deceased was sitting near the window and while dozing off, he lost balance and fell,” and it adds that “No evidence of any quarrel, assault, or pushing has been found from the incident site or any other source.”

Clarion India adds that Tabassum Khatoon alleged the assault was streamed live on video call and quotes her saying, “I saw them dragging him by the collar, slapping and beating him.”

After the family raised concerns, Uttar Pradesh Police moved toward legal proceedings, with multiple outlets describing how the complaint was received and how the case shifted from an initial accident framing.

“Patna: A 30-year-old imam (cleric) from Kishanganj in Bihar, travelling back to his native state, was allegedly thrashed and thrown out of a running train near Bareilly railway station in Uttar Pradesh”

ETV Bharat

Madhyamam says UP Police will initiate legal proceedings after receiving a family complaint alleging assault, and it states the body was found Sunday near railway tracks in Bareilly’s Palpur Gate area.

It quotes Bareilly City SP Manush Parik saying police responded to a keyman’s alert, identified Raza via his phone, conducted a post-mortem and handed the body to family from Kishanganj.

The Siasat Daily similarly says “Necessary legal action will be taken regarding the killing of the 30-year-old cleric, Maulana Tousif Raza Mazhari,” after receiving a complaint from the victim’s family alleging assault, and it places the initial dismissal by railway authorities as a fatal fall from a moving train.

Maktoob adds that after family members arrived from Kishanganj and expressed suspicion that the deceased may have been assaulted on the train, police stated they had spoken with the family and would initiate necessary legal action upon receiving a formal complaint.

Muslim Mirror says police rejected social media claims and warned that spreading false information could invite legal action, while also stating that the deceased’s mobile phone, PAN card, ATM card, and other belongings were recovered intact and that “The phone was functional and helped police trace and inform his family.”

The death has triggered reactions from political leaders and community figures who link the case to broader concerns about violence against Muslims in India under Narendra Modi, as described by Kashmir Media Service.

Kashmir Media Service says Kishanganj MP Mohammad Jawaid termed it a “documented assault,” pointing to a recurring “pattern of hate,” and it quotes him calling for a swift, transparent, and impartial investigation.

Kashmir Media Service

It also reports that AIMIM Bihar chief Akhtarul Iman described the incident as “extremely shocking” and demanded a high-level probe, while Bhim Army chief and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad highlighted contradictions between the victim’s last call and the official version.

Maktoob adds that AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi expressed hope that Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw would take action against those responsible for the killing.

Maktoob quotes Chandrashekhar Azad urging Ashwini Vaishnaw to ensure a high-level, transparent, and impartial investigation, and it includes Azad’s statement that “when, on one hand, the victim’s last call reveals accounts of attack and harassment, and on the other, the official statement describes it as an accident, it clearly indicates a contradiction.”

Clarion India adds that a Thakurganj resident, Tawangar Hussain Baghi, said the incident created fear among migrant workers who regularly take trains to Delhi and Mumbai, and it quotes him saying, “People here are cancelling their train tickets. They are scared that they might also be attacked and thrown out of trains.”

While the core facts of a death near Bareilly railway tracks and a dispute over whether it was an accident or assault are shared across reports, the outlets diverge in emphasis and framing, including how they treat the family’s evidence and the police narrative.

“UP Police to take legal action in Bihar imam Tousif Raza killing text_fieldsUttar Pradesh Police will initiate legal proceedings in the death of 30-year-old cleric Maulana Tousif Raza Mazhari, a Bihar madrasa teacher, after receiving a family complaint alleging assault”

Madhyamam

Kashmir Media Service frames the incident as part of “ongoing violence against Muslims in Modi’s India,” and it highlights the audio recording of the final phone call, quoting the imam’s distress and his claim that “no one is helping.”

Madhyamam

In contrast, Muslim Mirror centers the police position, stating that “No evidence of any quarrel, assault, or pushing has been found from the incident site or any other source,” and it describes the police explanation of “Due to extreme heat” as the likely cause.

Clarion India foregrounds the widow’s allegations and quotes Tabassum Khatoon saying, “I saw them dragging him by the collar, slapping and beating him,” and it also includes her claim that his body was “intact, with clear signs of beating all over.”

ETV Bharat similarly emphasizes the family’s assertion that it was “allegedly thrashed and thrown out of a running train,” and it quotes Tabassum Khatoon describing that he asked her to call police in Shahjajanpur for help.

The Siasat Daily and Madhyamam both focus on the procedural shift toward legal action, with Madhyamam saying UP Police will initiate legal proceedings after receiving a family complaint alleging assault and with The Siasat Daily saying “Necessary legal action will be taken” after the complaint.

The next steps described in the reports revolve around legal action, formal complaints, and calls for a high-level, transparent investigation, with specific officials and institutions named.

Madhyamam says UP Police will initiate legal proceedings after receiving a family complaint alleging assault, and it states that SP Manush Parik confirmed legal action will follow the complaint.

The Siasat Daily similarly says police will take necessary legal action after the complaint, and it notes that police said the concern was only brought to their attention on Thursday, after which they said legal action would follow.

Maktoob says police stated they had spoken with the family and would initiate necessary legal action upon receiving a formal complaint, and it also reports that police initially denied assault or murder and later shifted after family pressure.

Political leaders and community figures also demanded investigation and accountability, with Kashmir Media Service quoting Mohammad Jawaid calling for a swift, transparent, and impartial investigation and with AIMIM Bihar chief Akhtarul Iman demanding a high-level probe.

Muslim Mirror says police warned that spreading false information could invite legal action, and it describes that inquest proceedings were completed in the presence of relatives, indicating that the case is moving through formal processes even as the dispute over cause of death continues.