A group of Muslims assaulted two gau rakshaks (cow protectors) in Mathura district, UP after the latter allegedly entered their locality, suspecting cow slaughter.

According to reports, about a dozen gau rakshaks, led by Ravi Kant Sharma, president of the Gau Raksha Dal, came to search some houses in Mewati village on Sunday. Some local Muslims alleged that the men were ‘trying to steal their buffaloes’ when two of them were caught. Those two were assaulted and sustained severe injuries said Sharma, who added that his team reached the locality based on a tip-off about cow slaughter taking place there. He added that locals also pelted stones at his group.

Police said ‘no evidence’ of any such act was found at the site. The situation is now under control, the police said.

SP (city) M P Singh said that an FIR was lodged against 14 people under IPC Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 147 (rioting), and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), based on a complaint filed by Sharma at the Kotwali police station. An investigation is on.

Mob attacks on gau rakshaks and police which enter Muslim-dominated localities based on inputs about illegal cow slaughter often come under attack in Western UP and other hotspots of the beef mafia like Mewat. In December 2021, three policemen, including a sub inspector, were injured in Muzaffarnagar district as villagers attacked a police party to free Mukim Qureshi, a man accused in 11 cases of cow slaughtering and other cases. A case was registered under various sections of the IPC against 12 supporters of Quershi, including vice president of UP Bhartiya Kisan Union (Tomar faction) Haji Shan Mohammad.

It is not uncommon for the beef mafia to be alerted in advance about such checks, giving them time to gather large crowds and clear any evidence of illegal slaughterhouses. Unfortunately, in some cases, police involvement has also been found.

(With IANS inputs)