Cow vigilantes also set the vehicle on fire. The FIR names 13 individuals, including Ramkumar Arya and Arjun alias Bholu, along with an additional 20-25 unknown persons
NEW DELHI – A cow vigilante mob brutally assaulted four Muslims transporting meat in a mini-truck in the Harduaganj area of Aligarh District in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. The mob also set fire to their vehicle as policemen allegedly watched as silent spectators.
Videos of the mob violence have gone viral on social media and they show the four Muslim youth partially stripped and brutally assaulted. A case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including Sections 191(2), 191(3), 190, 109, 308(5), 310(2), and 3(5). The police have initiated legal action based on the complaint, media reports reaching here said on Sunday.
उत्तर प्रदेश के अलीगढ़ में हिंदू संगठनों ने मांस से भरी गाड़ी में आग लगाई। गोमांस होने के शक में गाड़ी सवार युवकों को बर्बरता से पीटा, लहूलुहान किया। पुलिस ने मांस को जांच हेतु लैब में भेजा, घायलों को हॉस्पिटल में एडमिट कराया। #Aligarh pic.twitter.com/VSGlD7jny0
— Irfan Turkei 🩺 عرفان (@IrfanTukei) May 24, 2025
The victims maintained that they were carrying buffalo meat, which isn’t banned. The police said samples were being sent for forensic analysis.
Media reports said the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Sena, a little-known satellite of the Bajrang Dal, has claimed the assault.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered at the Harduaganj Police Station, the complainant, Salim Khan, son of Rashid Khan, was travelling with his nephew, Akil Ibrahim, from Atrauli to the Aligarh mandi factory when their vehicle was stopped by the mob carrying lathis and other sharp weapons.
The incident occurred on the road leading from Panethi Road to Sadhu Ashram Road.
The FIR names 13 individuals, including Ramkumar Arya and Arjun alias Bholu, along with an additional 20-25 unknown individuals. These individuals are reported to be residents of areas including Harduaganj and Aligarh. The group allegedly surrounded the vehicle and demanded ₹50,000 to allow it to pass.
When Salim Khan and Akil Ibrahim exited the vehicle and objected to the demand, Ramkumar Arya and Lavkush reportedly ordered other mob members to assault them. The victims were allegedly beaten with iron rods and sticks. During the assault, the accused are said to have searched their pockets and stolen mobile phone sets and money. Akil Ibrahim sustained injuries in the attack.
The FIR notes that there was a delay in reporting the case, as there were efforts to get treatment for the injured.
Local leaders of the Bajrang Dal claimed that this was the same vehicle villagers had intercepted before with similar “illegal meat”. However, police clarified that it was buffalo meat.
Superintendent of Police (Rural) Amrit Jain said a police team reached the spot, rescued the four people and rushed them to a hospital. “The meat has been seized and sent for laboratory testing. A case has been registered, and a thorough investigation is initiated,” Jain said in a video posted on X.
He also noted that the transporter’s documents, including those for cattle slaughter, were in order at that time.
A couple of days earlier, Kaushambi district, 500km southeast of Aligarh, witnessed an attack on an animal trader and his two employees, who were ferrying live buffaloes. The attack was carried out by extortionists who displayed a BJP flag and signage of a “cow protection” organisation.
