A Muslim man was forced by vigilantes in Latur, Maharashtra, to wear a skull cap and bow down before a cow.
The incident also involved the mob reportedly beating up the victim, who has been hospitalized for his injuries.
Location: Latur, Maharashtra
Cow Vigilantes who caught a Muslim man transporting cattle was forced to wear a skull cap and bow before a cow.
Reports suggest he was admitted to hospital after suffering injuries. pic.twitter.com/WltbUMsUNo
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) April 28, 2023
The presence of police personnel during the incident has caused outrage and condemnation.
Latur’s SP, Somay Munde, has taken action against two constables and three home guards who were allegedly present during the assault, according to the Times of India. The incident has received widespread attention and sparked criticism over the rising incidents of cow vigilantism in India.
Munde told TOI, “We have taken serious cognizance of the incident and attached the two constables seen in the video to the police headquarters and also initiated a departmental inquiry against them. The three home guards’ deployment has been cancelled.”
According to reports, a local activist named Afzal Qureshi has filed a police complaint demanding action against the mob that was seen assaulting the driver. Meanwhile, the driver has been charged under various provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
“The driver had loaded a total of 15 cattle into a mini-truck from a Patoda-based animal market and sent them to Ausa market on April 23. He had all the required legal documents for trading the animals. But before reaching the market, some people waylaid his vehicle. The police reached the spot. Despite the legal documents, an FIR was registered against the driver for cruelty to animals,” Qureshi said.
According to the Latur SP, the victim panicked and his blood pressure shot up. “The police got him admitted to a hospital. Still, we will look into the complaint,” the report quoted him.