Faridabad, Haryana: A tragic case of mistaken identity led to the death of a 19-year-old in Faridabad, Haryana, on August 23. The teenager, identified as Aryan Mishra, was reportedly shot by a group of individuals who believed he was involved in cattle smuggling. The incident has brought attention to the ongoing issue of vigilante violence related to cow protection in India.
Incident Details:
According to police reports, Aryan Mishra, a Class 12 student from Faridabad, was with five friends in an SUV when he was pursued and shot by the suspects. The group, allegedly led by Anil Kaushik, who is associated with a cow protection organization named Live for Nation, believed Mishra and his friends were involved in illegal cattle transportation. The suspects chased the vehicle and fired at it, hitting Mishra with two bullets. Five men have been apprehended and are in judicial custody, with the investigation ongoing.
Initially, Mishra’s family suspected personal grievances might have been the motive behind the attack, as cow vigilantes were not mentioned in their early complaint. However, the involvement of cow vigilantes has since come to light.
Recent Incidents of Cow Vigilantism:
The issue of cow vigilantism has been a persistent problem in India, with several incidents reported this year:
- Haryana (August 27): A migrant worker from West Bengal, Sabir Malik, was allegedly beaten to death by cow vigilantes in Charkhi Dadri district. A video of the lynching, showing Malik being assaulted with sticks and rods, was shared on social media.
- Maharashtra (Last Week): An elderly man was attacked on a moving train in Nashik district on suspicion of carrying beef. The video of the incident went viral, showing the man being beaten and abused by fellow passengers.
- Gujarat (May 23): Mishrikhan Baloch was reportedly killed by cow vigilantes in Banaskantha while transporting buffaloes. Five men allegedly lynched him early in the morning.
- Chhattisgarh (June 6-7): Two men from Uttar Pradesh were lynched by cow vigilantes while transporting buffaloes. The attackers followed their truck for about 70 kilometers before the assault.
- Rajasthan and Odisha (January): In January, cow vigilantes were involved in violent incidents in both states, including assaults on truck drivers and a high-speed chase involving cattle transport.
Supreme Court’s Stance:
In April 2024, the Supreme Court of India directed state governments to report on the measures taken against mob lynching and cow vigilantism. The Court noted that many states had not responded to previous notices, prompting the bench to grant six weeks for state replies and actions taken. This directive followed a 2018 verdict addressing lynching and mob violence related to cow protection.
Cow Protection Laws:
Different states in India have stringent laws against cow slaughter, contributing to the rise in vigilante violence:
- Haryana: Prohibits cow slaughter with penalties ranging from three to ten years in prison and fines up to ₹1 lakh. Beef products are also banned.
- Uttar Pradesh: Similar strict laws against cow slaughter, leading to frequent vigilante actions.
- Maharashtra: The Animal Preservation Act bans slaughter of cows, bulls, and bullocks, with penalties including up to five years in prison.
- Rajasthan: Bans slaughter of cows and their progeny with penalties of up to 14 years imprisonment.
- Jharkhand: Prohibits cow slaughter with violators facing up to ten years in prison.
Despite these laws, vigilantism persists, with various groups taking the law into their own hands, resulting in tragic and often fatal consequences for those they suspect of cattle-related offenses.
Leave a Reply