Police are continuing their investigation, identifying additional suspects based on video footage and eyewitness testimonies
ALIGARH/NEW DELHI – A forensic science laboratory (FSL) report has confirmed that the meat found in a truck attacked by a mob in Aligarh was of buffalo and not beef, as originally suspected. The incident, which occurred on 24 May, saw four Muslim meat traders brutally assaulted by cow vigilantes. The police have arrested four individuals in connection with the attack and say more arrests are likely.
The victims were accused of transporting cow meat by members of local Hindu organisations, who reportedly stopped the truck in Panethi area and launched a violent attack. All four traders sustained serious injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University. One of the victims remains in critical condition.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjeev Suman confirmed the development to the media. “The meat recovered from the spot was sent for forensic examination. The FSL report has now confirmed that it was buffalo meat, not cow meat,” he stated.
Police are continuing their investigation, identifying additional suspects based on video footage and eyewitness testimonies. “We have arrested four accused so far. The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests will be made soon,” SP Suman added.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), often associated with cow protection activities, distanced itself from the incident. In a press conference held earlier this week, VHP leader Hamukesha Rajput said, “The investigation report regarding the incident has not come yet. VHP and Bajrang Dal have nothing to do with this matter. Any decision will be taken by the organisation only after the investigation report comes.”
However, the timing of the statement came under scrutiny as the police had already confirmed the FSL findings before the press conference.
The attack has reignited concerns over the growing trend of vigilantism under the guise of cow protection. Activists and journalists have long accused self-styled “gau rakshaks” (cow protectors) of extorting money from meat traders, particularly Muslims, in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
“There is a pattern here,” said social activist Shabnam Hashmi. “The narrative of cow slaughter is often used as a pretext to harass and assault Muslim traders. These incidents are not isolated but part of a larger climate of impunity and targeted violence.”
Media outlets have previously highlighted how such cow protection groups frequently engage in illegal extortion and attacks. According to local sources, truck drivers are routinely stopped at district borders and forced to pay bribes to avoid being accused of cow slaughter.
Ali Mohammad, a resident of the area and relative of one of the injured men, shared his experience: “These people stop our trucks loaded with buffaloes and demand money. If we refuse, they create a scene and accuse us of transporting beef. This time they didn’t just threaten, they tried to kill.”
Similar attacks have been reported over the years, particularly in northern states. In many cases, the victims are later proven to be innocent. However, few of the attackers face serious legal consequences, raising concerns about law enforcement and accountability.
Legal experts argue that the unchecked rise of cow vigilante groups threatens the rule of law. “We are seeing a parallel justice system being enforced on the streets, often by people with no authority,” said Supreme Court lawyer Vrinda Grover. “This is dangerous in any democracy.”
The National Human Rights Commission has previously issued notices in such cases, calling for accountability and police reform. Yet, activists argue that state authorities have done little to rein in these groups, some of whom have political patronage.
The families of the injured traders are demanding swift justice. “We are daily wage earners,” said the brother of one of the victims. “We are being punished for our livelihood. Even now, we live in fear that these people will return.”
Doctors at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College confirmed that the injuries sustained were serious. “Three of the patients are recovering, but one remains in critical condition due to head injuries,” a hospital source said.
Police have registered two FIRs in the case — one against the attackers and another based on the claims of cow slaughter, which now appears baseless following the FSL report. Civil society groups have demanded that the case under the cow slaughter law be dropped immediately.
Opposition leaders have also criticised the incident, calling it a failure of law and order. Samajwadi Party spokesperson Sunil Yadav said, “The government must act against such lawless behaviour. This is not cow protection; it is communal targeting.”
Meanwhile, BJP leaders have maintained silence on the matter, prompting further criticism from rights groups and opposition parties.
Incidents like the Aligarh assault are part of a wider trend in recent years, where allegations of cow slaughter have been used to justify violence against minorities. Critics argue that such acts are designed not just to punish but to instill fear in entire communities.
Political commentator Faizan Mustafa remarked, “This is not just about meat. It’s about social control, about asserting dominance over marginalised groups by criminalising their livelihoods.”
While the confirmation that the meat was of buffalo may lead to legal relief for the victims, the social scars — and the underlying communal tensions — remain deeply entrenched.
As investigations continue, the Aligarh incident adds to a growing list of mob attacks carried out in the name of cow protection. With forensic evidence debunking the original claim, the spotlight now turns to law enforcement and the government’s responsibility to curb vigilantism and uphold justice for all citizens — regardless of religion or occupation.
