A Muslim man died and another remains in critical condition after they were brutally assaulted by a group of suspected cow vigilantes in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district, according to a First Information Report (FIR) filed with the Sanchi Police.
The incident occurred on the evening of June 5 near the Vidisha-Kohdi Road, close to a school in the village, Mehangawa. The victims — identified as Junaid Khan and his companion Arman — were reportedly transporting cattle when they were intercepted and attacked by a group of around 10 to 15 people.
The group accused them of transporting six to ten cows late at night and attacked them violently. The assault was captured on a phone camera and shared on social media. The victims were later shifted to Bhopal’s Hamidia Hospital with police assistance. Both were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, where Junaid was placed on ventilator support.
After battling for nearly two weeks, Junaid died on the morning of June 17. Arman remains in critical condition.
In a video that surfaced after the incident, Dhruv Chaturvedi, who claimed to be part of the cow protection group, said, “We got information that cows were tied near the Mehgaon temple. When we chased the vehicle, we were attacked with stones. We saved the cows by risking our lives.”
Another video shows a heated exchange between Chaturvedi and police officer Anandilal Suryavanshi, who reprimanded him for taking the law into his own hands. The officer said, “What you did to your driver – that beating – was wrong.”
The FIR mentions that the attackers also seized the victims’ phones and beat them while recording videos. Police arrived after being informed by bystanders and shifted both victims to the hospital.
“My son was innocent. He worked as a labourer. Even if he was carrying cows, why couldn’t this be investigated properly? Who gave the mob the right to kill him? What kind of country are we becoming?” NDTV quoted Junaid’s father as saying. According to the family, Junaid was in the cattle trade business, and Arman went to assist him on June 4-5.
A case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 302 (murder), 296 (rioting), 126(2), 115(2), 109(3)(5), and 400 (organised crime). Interestingly, BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) Section 103(2), which deals with the punishment for murder committed by a group of five or more persons, is not invoked in the FIR even though evidence of mob lynching is available.
Police have arrested three or four suspects, while more than 10 others remain at large.
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