Protests erupt in Ramban as man goes missing after alleged attack by cow vigilante

Thousands of protesters blocked traffic on National Highway 44 in Ramban on Monday after a local resident, Tanveer Ahmad Chopan, went missing under circumstances that locals alleged were linked to an attack by suspected cow vigilantes.

Police said Chopan, from Mundkhal village in the Pogal area, had been returning from Jammu in a mini-truck carrying a cow and two calves when the incident took place near Magarkote on Sunday afternoon. Senior Superintendent of Police Arun Gupta stated that information was received around 1:30 pm suggesting Chopan had jumped into the Bishlari stream, a tributary of the Chenab River.

He said eyewitnesses had reported seeing him jump, and added that the circumstances leading up to the incident were under investigation, with CCTV footage being examined to determine whether he was being chased, Maktoob Media reported.

An FIR (No. 26/2026) has been registered at Ramsoo Police Station, and four individuals, Surjeet Singh, Sandeep Singh, Digvijay Singh, and Keval Singh, have been arrested. However, officials have not specified the exact charges or confirmed any links between the accused and right-wing groups.

Local residents and political leaders have alleged that Chopan was attacked by so-called ‘gau rakshaks’. Sajjad Shaheen, a legislator from Banihal representing the ruling National Conference claimed that Chopan’s vehicle was stoned, after which he was dragged out and assaulted.

He said Chopan, fearing for his life, fled and jumped from a cliff into the river, where he was swept away, adding that Chopan had valid documents for transporting the animals.

Following the incident, large crowds, including women and children, gathered near Magarkote and blocked the highway, demanding strict action against those responsible and greater transparency in the investigation.

Protesters also called for a copy of the FIR to be shared with the family and raised slogans demanding the harshest punishment for the accused. Some participants expressed concern over what they described as a pattern of similar incidents in the region.

Advocate Feroz Khan reportedly said that such cases were not isolated and questioned why people were being targeted on suspicion, calling for accountability and identification of those behind such groups.

Officials, including Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Alyas Khan and SSP Gupta, later visited the protest site and assured swift action, after which the blockade was lifted and traffic resumed.

Search operations are ongoing, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force deployed to locate Chopan. Authorities have also urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information on social media.

Political reactions intensified following the incident. The office of Srinagar MP Ruhullah Mehdi said the case reflected a troubling pattern and demanded justice for Chopan, arguing that no political protection should be extended to the accused.

Iltija Mufti of the Peoples Democratic Party alleged delays in action against those responsible, claiming that the incident reflected a broader issue of impunity.

In a post on X, Mufti wrote, “Tanveer Hussain was driven to his death by cow vigilantes in Ramban. As if the incident weren’t distressing enough, the culprits have yet to be booked, let alone arrested. Mobile services have been suspended to stop the word from spreading. But the truth is, gau rakshaks enjoy institutional impunity from cold-blooded murder.”

Meanwhile, Salman Nizami of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party said he had spoken to DIG Shargun Shukla, who assured that strict action would be taken. He also appealed to the public to maintain peace and allow the investigation to proceed.

The incident has heightened tensions in the region, with continued demands for accountability and a thorough, transparent probe.