Muslim buffalo traders assaulted by mob in MP, police book victims under animal cruelty law
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Two Muslim buffalo traders and a van driver were assaulted by a Hindutva mob in Madhya Pradesh's Damoh district on October 26 after being stopped while transporting buffaloes.
Police have registered a case against the victims under animal cruelty provisions, while two people have been arrested for the assault.
The incident took place in Hardua village under the Hindoriya police station limits. The attackers were members of Hindutva outfits.
Videos circulating on social media show the traders, identified as Abid Qureshi and Hasan Qureshi, being tied up, dragged through a field and beaten with sticks.
Speaking to reporters from the hospital, Abid said they had shown the attackers purchase receipts to establish that the buffaloes were not stolen.
"They did not listen to us, so we started running around to save ourselves, but they caught us. They beat us up badly, even though we kept saying that the buffaloes were not stolen. We got some relief when the police arrived," he said.
Two of the victims are being treated at a hospital in Damoh, while the third has been referred to Jabalpur.
Damoh Superintendent of Police Anand Kaladagi confirmed to Maktoob that two people had been arrested based on video footage of the assault.
"The men were stopped on suspicion that they were transporting stolen buffaloes and were later beaten. Based on the videos, two men have been arrested," he said.
Kaladagi said police had also registered a case against the traders, the driver and the van owner. He alleged that they were transporting more than seven to eight animals in a vehicle designed to carry only one or two, and that the animals were being transported in poor conditions.
A separate FIR has been registered against unidentified persons for the assault, based on the victims' complaint and video footage. Police are examining the footage to identify others involved.
Members of the Muslim community staged a demonstration at the SP office, demanding strict action against those responsible.