In yet another bizarre case of cow vigilantism, half a dozen men belonging to marginalised communities were beaten up by a group of right wing activists and the police in two separate incidents at Dularia village in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh.
After the two videos of the assault went viral, Betul police registered a case. The case was not registered against the so-called vigilantes, but against those who were brutally beaten in the video.
Additional SP Ghanshyam Malviya told media that a case has been registered against Phoolchand and Nandkishore after they were caught smuggling cows. Police, however, is pleading ignorance about the beating of the alleged accused.
At Dularia, 110 km from Betul district headquarters, the two young men were tied with ropes and were punished in front of the crowd. A lathi wielding man leading the crowd also beat them, the video showed.
In a separate incident, under the same Mohda police station, four other youth were also beaten by a police constable in full view of several onlookers. The young men have been identified as Suresh Chandra Meena, Sameer Khan, Rupsingh Sanwar and Afzal. They were later arrested by the police.
According to police sources, the alleged smugglers were arrested while transportiong 17 cows when they were apprehended by some gau rakshaks. Sub-divisional police officer (SDOP) of Bhainsdehi Prem Singh Thakur said that the men were from neighboring Amravati district of Maharashtra. Betul shares its border with Maharashtra.
Anurag Modi, a social activist and leader of Shramik Adivasi Sangathan, said “The incidents of cow-vigilantism reaching tribal areas is a matter of concern as adivasi rear animals to sell later for their livelihood.” He said that in this case, the young men, who were manhandled, belong to marginalised communities.
SDOP Thakur said, “We are investigating the video and would look into the matter if they were really beaten.”
Modi said it is surprising that four men were arrested just because they were found near the house of an adivasi where some 18 cows were resting. He said the incidents of cow-vigilantism are hurting the poor and dalit communities. The adivasi, who used to rear cows for selling are now afraid of doing this. These incidents will ultimately turn people away from rearing cows, he said.
