Four Muslim youth from Alwar in Rajasthan were arrested for raping a calf. The intentions of the accused were pretty clear when they released a disturbing video of their brutal act, on social media. It led to widespread anger among residents of the area and thousands protested on the streets.

Zubair, Talim, Waris and Chuna took the calf to a hilly area, kicked its mouth in so that it could not make any noise, raped the poor animal and filmed their shocking act of bestiality. Zubair and Chuna were immediately arrested while the other two were apprehended later. 

A local dairy farmer from Chuhadpur who owns around 20-25 cows and goats had taken them to graze. He went home to have lunch and that is when the accused pounced on the calf and took it away into the hillside. 

The farmer found the accused raping the animal and raised an alarm. The accused threatened to kill him and ran away following which a police complaint was registered and the matter was investigated. All the accused are from the same Chuhadpur village and in their early 20s. 

Alwar Superintendent of Police, Shantanu K Singh said that a medical examination of the female calf had confirmed rape. More than 5,000 attended a protest march in Tijara town while the shopkeepers downed shutters as a mark of protest. 

The shameful act happened on the February 10 and the situation remained tense. Heavy police deployment was seen in the area. Community leaders handed over a memorandum to the district administration asking them to ensure strict punishment to the accused. 

An FIR was registered under IPC sections related to carnal intercourse against the order of nature with an animal. It is punishable with life imprisonment. Local lawyers promised not to represent any of the accused. 

Media reports pointed out that Tijara falls under the Mewat region, which includes parts of both Haryana and Rajasthan. Mewat is a Muslim-dominated area that has a history of organized crime, Rohingyan infiltrators and cow smuggling that often end in encounters with the police. 

Local police have taken several measures so far to stop the smuggling and atrocities against cows but the cow slaughter continues unabated. PETA, the self-proclaimed saviors of animals were conspicuous with their silence. Why is it that atrocities against animals at the hands of Islamists are often handled with a velvet glove by the media and so-called animal rights activists?