Of late, several cases of assault on innocent men by cow vigilantes have been reported on social media and other outlets. These attacks are often based on mere suspicions or rumours.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – A Muslim truck driver was chased and thrashed by cow vigilantes or “gau rakshaks,” in Palwal in Haryana state last week over allegations of transporting cattle, reports reaching here said.
The cow vigilantes are self-appointed violent protectors of cows. The last week’s incident is a clear example of the dangerous consequences of such vigilantism.
What makes the incident even more cruel and disturbing is the crudely edited video which went viral on social media. The video shows the group of cow vigilantes chasing and “rescuing” cows from the young Muslim truck driver. The video also contains text with the date of the incident as well as the cow vigilante teams that were involved, media reports said.
Of late, several cases of assault on innocent men by cow vigilantes have been reported on social media and other outlets. These attacks are often based on mere suspicions or rumours.
Talking to media, a social activist in Palwal said it was the responsibility of the government to take strong action against these groups and ensure that the rule of law is upheld.
“The authorities must also tackle the underlying issues that are fuelling such vigilantism, such as religious intolerance and hatred towards minorities,” media reports quoted him as saying.
