Cow vigilantes attack J&K bus driver over death of calf

Kathua: In Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua, cow vigilantes attacked a bus driver over an accident that killed a stray calf on the road. The victim, whose vehicle hit the cow, was pulled off the bus by the vigilantes and was beaten mercilessly on Tuesday night.

The victim was identified as Ramesh Kumar and was attacked by a group of cow vigilantes, headed by one Ranveer Singh, in the Ghati area. The attack had caused severe injuries to the victim. The video of the incident appeared on social media, where Ramesh could be seen pleading for mercy while the assaulters mercilessly hit and dragged him by his hair.

Ramesh is hospitalized now.

However, following the incident, Ramesh’s family members and residents of Khatua staged a protest demanding Ranveer’s and his associates’ arrest. They calmed down only after Khatua police arrived and promised to take strict action against the accused. The accused will be caught, and a fair investigation will be carried out, a senior official promised the protesters, Siasat reported.

According to Siasat, the number of lynching cases by cow vigilantes increased and reached an overall high after BJP entered to power for the third time. Two Hindu men were assaulted on June 30 by vigilantes in Rajasthan’s Churu district, alleging transporting cattle. But the truth was that their pick-up truck were loaded with lemons, Siasat reports.

In June 16, a Haryana meat shop owned by a Muslim was raided and the owner and two other Hindu men were attacked by the assaulters. Armed vigilantes raided Mewat village in the state, alleging cattle slaughter, and attacked two Muslim men.

In a gruesome incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Vrindavan, cow vigilantes locked a truck driver and another occupant inside a room and beat them.