Cow Vigilante Group Beats A Muslim Man To Death In Madhya Pradesh

cow vigilante
Photo Courtesy : https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org

A Muslim man accused of killing a cow was beaten to death by a mob in central India, police said Sunday, the latest vigilante murder over the animal considered sacred by Hindus.

Siraj Khan, a 45-year-old tailor, was attacked in the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh state early Friday and died at the scene, local police official Arvind Tiwari told AFP. Kahn’s friend Shakeel Maqbool, who was also attacked, was admitted to hospital with critical injuries.

“We have arrested four people, and they have been sent to judicial custody. We are investigating what prompted the attack,” Tiwari said. He added that meat and a bull carcass was found at the scene.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has promised to completely outlaw cow slaughter in India. A circular issued by the government last year made transporting cows illegal, which was seen as a virtual ban on cow slaughter. The circular was later withdrawn following wide spred protest. Rights groups say Hindu mobs have been emboldened under the party, who stormed to power in 2014.

In two prominent cases last year, a dairy farmer was killed on a roadside for transporting cows and a Muslim teenager accused of carrying beef was stabbed to death on a crowded train.

Hindus consider cows sacred and slaughtering the animals, or possessing or consuming beef, is banned in most Indian states. Cow slaughter in Madhya Pradesh carries a maximum seven-year jail term but many other parts of India impose life sentences for infringements.

It is estimated that at least 40 people were killed by cow vigilante groups in India since BJP came to power in 2014. Many of the victims are Muslims.

Madhya Pradesh is ruled by BJP.

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