Family members allege the two were intercepted and beaten by members of a local group in the Madhepura district before being handed over to the police
NEW DELHI — Two Muslim men were assaulted by alleged cow vigilantes in Bihar’s Madhepura district and later jailed on charges of cow smuggling, cattle theft, and animal cruelty, prompting criticism from families and local farmers over police handling of the case.
According to reports received on Friday, the incident occurred on April 5 in the Bihariganj police station area. Mohammad Bhopal, 55, a cattle trader, and Mohammad Owais, 38, a driver, were detained while transporting cattle in a pickup vehicle.
Conflicting Accounts
Family members allege the two men were intercepted and beaten by 15 to 20 members of a local Bajrang Dal group near Chai Tola. Mohammad Shahnawaz, Bhopal’s son, said the group followed the vehicle, took the men to a wooded area, and assaulted them for nearly an hour.
Shahnawaz said he called the police station for help, but the officer in charge did not respond. He then contacted the emergency helpline, after which a police team arrived. He alleged that police accepted the vigilantes’ claims without verification and that the two men were beaten again in the presence of police personnel before being taken to the station.
Police denied knowledge of any assault. Station House Officer Krishna Kumar Singh said no complaint or evidence of the assault had been brought to their attention and that police were not aware of any video of the incident circulating on social media. A video purportedly showing the assault has been widely shared in the district, though its authenticity could not be independently verified.
Police registered a case under provisions related to animal cruelty and illegal cattle transport. SHO Singh said the two men failed to provide satisfactory proof regarding the origin of the cattle. “When asked where the cattle came from, they could not give a convincing answer or produce documents,” he said. He also said no farmers had come forward to confirm the sale.
However, five farmers from Lakshmipur Lalchand panchayat disputed that claim. They said they had sold the seven cattle to Mohammad Bhopal and conveyed this to the police. “We have been selling cattle to him for 10 to 15 years. These animals were ours and were being taken to the market,” one farmer said. “There is no question of theft or smuggling.”
The farmers said they visited the police station after the incident and recorded statements confirming ownership, along with their names and addresses. They allege police recorded these details but proceeded with charges against the men.
Concerns Over Police Response
Family members allege that despite visible injuries, Bhopal and Owais were sent to jail without adequate medical examination or treatment. “They were beaten and then jailed. No one listened to us,” a family member said. “We are worried about their safety.”
Locals, too, questioned the police action, noting the two men had long been involved in legitimate cattle trading. “They have been buying cattle from farmers and selling them in markets for years,” a resident said. “If the farmers themselves are saying the animals were sold, how can this be called theft?”
Police maintained that their action was based on available information and that due process had been followed in registering the case.
Legal experts and local observers said the case highlights a pattern in which allegations of cow smuggling are acted upon quickly, sometimes without thorough verification of ownership or intent. They also pointed to the absence of any case against those accused of carrying out the alleged assault, despite claims the incident was recorded and shared online.
“The lack of action on the assault, if proven, raises questions about whether the law is being applied evenly,” one local observer said.
The families have appealed to district authorities, including the Superintendent of Police, for an impartial investigation into both the charges against the men and the alleged assault.
