A 46-year-old Muslim cattle transporter from Jharkhand’s Godda district was lynched allegedly by a mob on Wednesday near the state’s border with Bihar, The Indian Express reported. His family alleged that he was targeted because of his faith.

The incident took place at night in the Sugabathan area of Godda when Pappu Ansari, a resident of Ranipur village, was returning home from the Shyam Bazaar cattle market in Bihar’s Banka.

A first information report filed on Thursday based on a complaint by his wife Ayesha Begum, alleged that unknown persons had stopped Pappu Ansari’s vehicle and asked him questions.

The complaint alleged that the mob asked him his name and then assaulted him using sharp weapons, including an axe, a farsa and arrows, The Indian Express reported. He died on the spot and his body was dumped in a field nearby.

Pappu Ansari’s family told the newspaper that he had been involved in legal transport of cattle.

His brother-in-law, Furqan Ansari, said that he owned a pickup vehicle and worked as a transporter, moving cattle from one market to another. He added that Pappu Ansari had been doing this work legally for several years and had the necessary documents for it.

The brother-in-law added that Pappu Ansari had gone to the evening cattle market on Wednesday and was returning at night when the mob stopped the vehicle at about 11 pm. “The driver [also with Pappu Ansari] said there were nearly 25 people,” The Indian Express quoted Furqan Ansari as saying.

The vehicle was initially stopped by the mob on the pretext of questioning those inside.

However, the mob soon turned violent and Pappu Ansari asked the driver and others inside to leave with the vehicle, Furqan Ansari added. While others escaped, Pappu Ansari was caught and beaten, Furqan Ansari added.

He claimed that Pappu Ansari was assaulted after the attackers asked him his name and realised that he was Muslim.

“This has nothing to do with cattle theft,” The Indian Express quoted him as saying. “It is about religion.”

Godda Superintendent of Police Mukesh Kumar said that a case had been filed and an investigation was underway.