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| '''Cow-based lynching''' refers to ]s that have occurred in India. Multiple people have been killed by people when they suspect victims have either consumed beef or assisted in slaughtering a ]. The first of it kind happened in on the night of 28 September 2015 in Bisara village near Dadri, Uttar Pradesh.<ref>{{cite news|title=Indian man lynched over beef rumours|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34398433|work=BBC News|date=30 September 2015}}</ref> Multiple incidents happened thereafter in various parts of North India.<ref>{{cite news|title=2 Men Lynched In Assam's Nagaon For Allegedly Trying To Steal Cows|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/2-men-killed-in-assam-for-allegedly-trying-to-steal-cows-1687887|work=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Taseer|first1=Aatish|title=Anatomy of a Lynching|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/16/opinion/anatomy-of-a-lynching.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=16 April 2017}}</ref> | |||
| '''Cattle protection-related violence''' are a set of violent actions perpetrated by individuals or groups for the purposes of protecting cattle from slaughter. Such violence has most notably occurred in ], where the targets of violence have often been Muslims and low-caste Hindus.<ref name=NatPo1>{{cite news|title=Violent vigilante cow protection groups prompt condemnation from Indian PM Narendra Modi|url=http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/tag/blog.html?b=news.nationalpost.com/news/world/violent-vigilante-cow-protection-groups-prompt-condemnation-from-indian-pm-narendra-modi&pubdate=2017-01-06&t=hinduism}}</ref> Many Hindus regard cows as holy and cow-slaughter is banned in most parts of India. Many of the groups that perpetrate this violence described themselves as '''gau rakshak''' (meaning "'''cow protection'''"); however, not all cow protection groups have resorted violence. | |||
| == Events == | |||
| Self-styled "cow protection" groups emerged in ] in the late 1800s, leading to riots in 1893. After that, there were sporadic incidents of related violence. However cattle-protection vigilantism has dramatically increased since 2014; many believe that Hindu extremists have been emboldened by the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's right-wing ].<ref name=DW/><ref>{{cite news|title=Mob kills Muslim man transporting cows in India|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/mob-kills-muslim-man-transporting-cows-india-170405135636103.html}}</ref> The vigilante violence has included assault, property damage and murder.<ref>{{cite news|title=2 Men Lynched In Assam's Nagaon For Allegedly Trying To Steal Cows|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/2-men-killed-in-assam-for-allegedly-trying-to-steal-cows-1687887|work=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Taseer|first1=Aatish|title=Anatomy of a Lynching|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/16/opinion/anatomy-of-a-lynching.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=16 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Indian man lynched over beef rumours|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34398433|work=BBC News|date=30 September 2015}}</ref> Indian Prime Minister ] have denounced the vigilantes, saying they were not legitimate "gau rakshaks" (cow protection volunteers).<ref name=NatPo1/> | |||
| === Dadri mob lynching === | |||
| ⚫ | ] refers to case of mob lynching in which a mob of villagers attacked the home of a Muslim man Mohammed Ikhlaq, with sticks and bricks, who they suspected of stealing and slaughtering a stolen cow calf, on the night of 28 September 2015 in Bisara village near Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, India. 52-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq Saifi (Ikhlaq according to some sources) died in that attack and his son, 22-year-old Danish seriously injured. | ||
| === Jharkhand mob lynching === | |||
| ==Background== | |||
| ⚫ | ] 2016 Jharkhand mob lynching refers to the case of lynching of two Muslim cattle traders by allegedly Cattle-Protection Vigilantes in Balumath forests in Latehar district in Jharkhand on 18 March 2016.<ref>{{cite news|title=Muslim Cattle Traders Beaten To Death In Ranchi, Bodies Found Hanging From A Tree|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2016/03/19/cattle-traders-killed-ranchi_n_9504182.html|work=Huffington Post India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Another Dadri-like incident? Two Muslims herding cattle killed in Jharkhand; five held|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/jharkhand/another-dadri-like-incident-two-muslims-herding-cattle-killed-in-jharkhand_1867361.html|work=Zee News|date=19 March 2016|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=5 held in Jharkhand killings, section 144 imposed in the area|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/5-held-in-jharkhand-killings-section-144-imposed-in-the-area-1218536.html|work=News18|date=19 March 2016}}</ref> | ||
| {{See also|Cattle slaughter in India}} | |||
| In India, Hindus constitute 80% of the population and many revere the cow as a sacred animal.<ref name="AlJazeeraSacred">{{cite web|title=Sacred cows and politics of beef in India|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/04/india-bjp-piggybacks-cow-milk-votes-2014417142154567121.html|author=Elizabeth Soumya | |||
| }}</ref> However, many of India's Scheduled tribes and Scheduled castes, who account for 25% of the country's population, are beef eaters. Muslims and Christians also eat beef.<ref name="AlJazeeraSacred" /> Eating beef is legal in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and most of the Northeastern region.<ref name="AlJazeeraSacred" /> Attempts to enact a nationwide ban on beef in India have not been successful.<ref name="WSJ">{{cite web|author=TRIPTI LAHIRI|title=India’s Battle Over Beef|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2012/05/02/indias-battle-over-beef/}}</ref> | |||
| While India exports buffalo meat, its foreign trade policy forbids export of cow meat.<ref name=Pink/><!-- where is the background for cow vigilantism here? activists of which groups/organisations participate in cow vigilantism? how were they formed? --> | |||
| ==History of violence== | |||
| {{see also|Cow protection movement}} | |||
| The first cow protection group was launched in 1870 in Punjab. In 1883, ] formed a cow protection committee.<ref name=BBC/> Such groups protested cow slaughter, and petitioned the government to ban it. At issue was the Muslim consumption of beef.<ref name=Judith/> In 1883, cow protection riots between Hindus and Muslims broke out in Punjab; in 1888-93, there were riots in the ]; in 1893-95, rioting broke out in Bombay and Mahrashtra.<ref name=Judith/> At least, 100 people were killed in the 1893 riot.<ref name=BBC/> While cow protection was the main issue, historians point out that this conflict was exacerbated by ] between Hindus and Muslims, who often differed in land ownership and occupation.<ref name=Judith>{{cite book|title=A Brief History of India|author=Judith E. Walsh|page=161}}</ref> For example, in Punjab, the cow protection riots built on long-standing conflicts between Muslim peasants and Hindu traders; in the United Provinces there had been pre-existing tensions between Muslim landlords and Hindu peasants in rural areas and between Hindu bankers and Muslim artisan in urban areas.<ref name=Judith/> | |||
| In 1966, eight people were killed in riots outside the Indian Parliament in Delhi, while demanding a national ban on cow slaughter.<ref name=BBC/> | |||
| In 2002, five Dalit youths were killed by a mob in ], ]. The mob were reportedly led by members of the ] in the presence of local police officials, following false rumors that the Dalits had killed a cow. The local leader of the VHP, ] said he had no regrets over the incident, and that the life of a cow was worth more than the lives of five Dalits.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hrw.org/legacy/wr2k3/asia6.html|title=World Report 2003 - India|publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2004/35516.htm|title=India: International Religious Freedom Report 2004; BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND LABOR.|last=|first=|date=|work=U.S. Department of State|access-date=2017-05-24|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=}}</ref> | |||
| In 2010, a mob attacked Muslims in ], after alleged cow slaughter. The mob vandalized Muslim-owned shops and mosques, and some buildings were set on fire.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shimla village tense after ‘cow slaughter’|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/shimla-village-tense-after--cow-slaughter-/579273/}}</ref> | |||
| In 2012, ] students organized a "beef festival" on the ] campus. They were opposed by a Hindu student group.<ref name=WSJ/> In the resulting clashes, one student was stabbed, five others were injured and many vehicles were burnt.<ref>{{cite news|title=`Beef festival` turns Osmania into battlefied|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/andhra-pradesh/beef-festival-turns-osmania-into-battlefied_770172.html}}</ref> | |||
| In 2015 ] reported that vigilante attacks on trucks carrying cattle had increased in ].<ref name=Pink>{{cite news|title=In the Pink|url=http://www.businesstoday.in/magazine/features/buffalo-meat-exports-thriving-under-narendra-modi-government/story/217143.html|date=2015-04-12}}</ref> In 2017, ] reported that according to the meat industry representatives, cow vigilantes have been stopping vehicles, extorting money and stealing valuable livestock.<ref name=Risk>{{cite news|author=Ian Marlow and Bibhudatta Pradhan|title=Cow-Saving Vigilantes Are a Sign of Rising Political Risk in India|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-04-19/shuttered-abattoir-a-sign-of-rising-political-risk-in-india}}</ref> | |||
| ===Post-2014=== | |||
| Recently there has been an increase in cow vigilantism in India, especially after ]'s ] (BJP) government came to power in 2014.<ref name=nytimes/><ref name=JobLoss>{{cite news|title=Cattle trade ban to halt beef exports, lead to job losses|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/india-modi-politics-meat-idUSKBN18P129|quote=Hindu hardliners and cow vigilante groups have been increasingly asserting themselves since Modi's Hindu nationalist government came to power in 2014.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=India’s sweeping ban on cattle slaughter kicks up a storm|url=http://www.atimes.com/article/indias-sweeping-ban-cattle-slaughter-kicks-storm/|quote=Ever since Narendra Modi became India’s Prime Minister three years ago, attacks from so-called “cow vigilantes” have been increasing, with the victims mostly Muslims or lower caste Hindus. Critics fear the new rules will further embolden vigilante groups.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Holy Cow: As Hindu Nationalism Surges In India, Cows Are Protected But Minorities Not So Much|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/the-conversation/holy-cow-as-hindu-nationalism-surges-in-india-cows-are-protect_a_22059916/|quote=Such attacks on religious minorities have increased across India since Narendra Modi was elected prime minister in 2014, backed by the Hindu nationalist BJP.}}</ref><ref name=DW>{{cite news|title=Muslim man beaten to death over cows in India|url=http://www.dw.com/en/muslim-man-beaten-to-death-over-cows-in-india/a-38301870}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Amrit Dhillon|publisher=]|title=Cow vigilantes take to the streets as India's Hindu leaders accused of 'right-wing' muscle flexing|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/cow-vigilantes-take-to-the-streets-as-indias-hindu-leaders-accused-of-rightwing-muscle-flexing-20160910-grdbje.html}}</ref>{{citekill|date=June 2017}} The frequency and severity of cow-related violence have been described as "unprecedented".<ref name=PRI/> ] has reported that there has been a surge in cow vigilante violence since 2015. <ref name= HRW1>{{cite web|title=India: ‘Cow Protection’ Spurs Vigilante Violence|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/04/27/india-cow-protection-spurs-vigilante-violence}}</ref> The surge is attributed to the recent rise in ] in India.<ref name=PRI/><ref name=JobLoss/> Many vigilante groups say they feel "empowered" by the victory of the Hindu nationalist BJP in the 2014 election.<ref name=BBC>{{cite news|author=Soutik Biswas|publisher=]|title=Why the humble cow is India's most polarising animal|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34513185}}</ref><ref name=Risk/> The ] (RSS) has been emboldened by the fact that the ] is also one of its members. The RSS has a history of launching vigilante campaigns, including cow protection groups.<ref name=Jha/> | |||
| Cow vigilantes have also been emboldened by beef bans in certain states.<ref name=PRI/><ref>{{cite news|title=India bans sale of cows for slaughter, a move designed to appease conservative Hindus|url=http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-india-cow-slaughter-20170526-story.html|publisher=]|quote=The rules build on legislation passed in several states, most led by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, to ban the slaughter of cattle. The laws have stoked violence by Hindu vigilante groups that have attacked Muslims and others on suspicion of smuggling cattle or possessing beef.}}</ref> For example, in March 2015, ] ] with regards to cow slaughter; the legislation sparked public debate and received extensive media attention.<ref name=PRI>{{cite journal|title=Sacred Slaughter: An Analysis of Historical, Communal, and Constitutional Aspects of Beef Bans in India|journal=Politics, Religion & Ideology|volume=17|issue=4|author=Radha Sarkar}}</ref> | |||
| Cow vigilante activity also increased during the run up to ].<ref name=Jha/> | |||
| As of 2016, vigilante groups were estimated to have sprung up in "hundreds, perhaps thousands" of towns and villages in northern India.<ref name=Jha>{{cite web|title=Cow vigilantes who are threatening Modi’s grip on power|url=https://www.chathamhouse.org/publications/twt/cowboys-and-indians}}</ref> | |||
| ==Contemporary "cow protection" groups== | |||
| As of 2016, cow protection vigilante groups were estimated to have sprung up in "hundreds, perhaps thousands" of towns and villages in northern India.<ref name=Jha/> There were an estimated 200 such groups in ] alone.<ref name =Delhi/> Some of the larger groups claim upto 5,000 members.<ref name=Guardian/> | |||
| One kind of cow protection groups are gangs who patrol highways and roads at night, looking for trucks that might be "smuggling" cows across the state borders.<ref name=Guardian/> These gangs can be armed; they justify this by claiming that "cow smugglers" themselves are often armed. The Haryana branch of ] described to the '']'' that it had exchanged gunfire with alleged smugglers, killed several of them and lost several of its members too. The gangs have been described as "unorganized", and gang leaders admit that their members can be hard to control.<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news|title=On patrol with the Hindu vigilantes who would kill to protect India's cows|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/27/on-patrol-hindu-vigilantes-smuggling-protect-india-cows-kill|publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
| The gangs consist of volunteers, many of whom are poor ]s{{efn|The source says "The men are all daily wage labourers, left behind by India’s surging, but uneven economic growth"<ref name=Guardian/>}}. The volunteers often tend to be young. According to a gang leader, "it’s easy to motivate a youth". Often the youth are given "emotional" motivation by being shown graphic videos of ].<ref name=Guardian/> One member said that cow vigilantism had given him a "purpose in life".<ref name =Delhi>{{cite news|title=The cow keepers: Some cattle vigilante groups operating in Delhi and neighbouring states|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/the-cow-keepers-the-cattle-vigilante-groups-operating-in-delhi-and-neighbouring-states/|publisher=]|date=2016-08-08}}</ref> | |||
| The vigilantes often have a network of informers (consisting of cobblers, rickshaw drivers, vegetable vendors etc.) who alert them to suspect anti-cow activities. The gang members and their network often use ] | |||
| to circulate information.<ref name =Delhi/> Their relationship with the police is disputed: some vigilantes claim to work with the police,<ref name =Delhi/> while others claim the police is corrupt and incompetent and they must take matters into their own hands.<ref name=Guardian/> | |||
| Many vigilantes believe their actions are approved by the government and Hindus of India. For example, the vigilante group "Gau Rakshak Dal", formed in Haryana in 2012, believe it is acting on government mandate.{{efn|Sarkar: "Another important material implication of the beef bans is violence, as the bans tacitly legitimize vigilante activity. For example, the Gau Rakshak Dal (cow protection group) was formed in Haryana in 2012 and now perceives itself to be acting upon the mandate of the government. Gau rakshaks (cow protectors) in various States take it upon themselves to punish those they believe to be harming the cow. It should be noted that it is the impression of violation of the cow, not necessarily the violation of the law, that drives these acts of retribution. In many cases, the violence occurs where the law may be silent, such as in the handling of dead cows. What is unquestionable is that the acts of violence themselves are illegal, but gau rakshaks are bolstered by the belief that their actions represent the political will of the state and the Hindus of India. Like the beef bans it stems from, cow vigilantism itself is not new in India, and violence over the protection of cows has occurred in the past. However, the frequency, impunity, and flagrance of the current instances of cow-related violence are unprecedented."}}<ref name=PRI/> | |||
| '']'' argues that cow vigilantism can sometimes be a profitable business. It pointed to an '']'' investigation that found that vigilantes in Punjab charge cattle transporters 200 rupees ($3) per cow in exchange for not harassing their trucks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cowboys and Indians; Protecting India's cows|url=http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21705374-udderworldly-debate-cowboys-and-indians|publisher=]|date=2016-08-16}}</ref> | |||
| == Incidents == | |||
| *May 30 2015, ]: a 60-year old man who ran a meat shop was beaten to death by a mob with sticks and iron rods.<ref name="HRW1" /> | |||
| *August 2 2015, ]: a mob beat three men to death, after the men were found carrying buffaloes.<ref name="HRW1" /> | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| *October 9, 2015, ]: a right-wing Hindu mob in Udhampur district threw gasoline bombs at an 18-year-old trucker. The mob had incorrectly suspected the trucker of transporting beef.<ref name="HRW1" /> | |||
| *October 14, 2015, ]: a mob beat a 22-year old to death, and injured four others, after suspecting them of transporting cows. Police immediately arrested the victims of the attack, accusing them of cow slaughter.<ref name="HRW1" /> Later police said they would investigate if ] was behind the attack. | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| *] refers to the attack and murder of Phelu Khan, a dairy farmer from Nuh district of Haryana by a group of 200 cow vigilantes affiliated with right-wing Hindutva groups in Alwar, Rajasthan, India. Six others who were with Phelu Khan were also beaten by the cow vigilantes.<ref name=nytimes>{{cite news|last1=Raj|first1=Suhasini|title=Hindu Cow Vigilantes in Rajasthan, India, Beat Muslim to Death|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/05/world/asia/india-cow-mob-hindu-vigilantes.html|work=The New York Times|date=5 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Beaten to death for being a dairy farmer|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-39511556|work=BBC News|date=8 April 2017}}</ref> | |||
| *April 24, 2017, Jammu and Kashmir: a family of five, including a 9-year old girl, were attacked and injured; police arrested 11 so-called cow vigilantes in connection with the attack.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/cow-protection-vigilantes-held-jammu-kashmir-170424081028194.html|title=Cow-protection vigilantes held in Jammu and Kashmir}}</ref> | |||
| *April 20, Assam: two men, in their 20s, were killed by a mob of cow vigilantes, after being accused of trying to steal cows for slaughter.<ref name="RT" /> | |||
| *It refers to the lynching of a Muslim boy on 23 June 2017 in Delhi-Ballabhgarh train over rumors of beef eating. The incident took place in a moving train when four youths named Junaid, Hashim, Shakir Mohsin and Moin were returning to their village in Haryana after shopping in Delhi for Eid.<ref>{{cite news|title=Four men went Eid shopping; beef rumor consumed one, three hospitalized|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/tughlakabad-men-fall-prey-beef-rumour-one-lynched-three-injured-731955|accessdate=23 June 2017|publisher=]|language=en}}</ref> All four of them were severely beaten and thrown out of the train at Asavati railway station.<ref>{{cite news|title=Man lynched on moving train near Delhi on row over beef consumption|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/man-lynched-on-moving-train-near-delhi-tughlakabad-on-row-over-beef-consumption/732203/|accessdate=23 June 2017|publisher=]|date=23 June 2017}}</ref> The vicitms were then taken to Palwal hospital where Junaid was declared brought dead. Other are still being treated in treated in the hospital.<ref>{{cite news|title=Man lynched, 3 thrashed over rumours of beef eating on Delhi-Ballabhgarh train route|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/eid-shopping-1-lynched-3-beaten-delhi-ballabhgarh-train/1/985533.html|accessdate=23 June 2017|publisher=]}}</ref> According to the police, the victims had arguments over meat with their co-passengers who attacked them with knife.<ref>{{cite news|title=One lynched, three injured on suspicion of consuming beef near Delhi|url=http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india-one-lynched-three-injured-on-suspicion-of-consuming-beef-near-delhi-387752|accessdate=23 June 2017|publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
| *On 1st May 2017, two Muslim men were lynched in ] of Assam on suspicion of stealing cows.<ref name="aljazeera">{{cite news|title=Muslim men lynched for 'trying to steal cows' in Assam|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/05/muslim-men-lynched-steal-cows-assam-170501083634689.html|accessdate=23 June 2017|publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=2 Muslim men killed by mob over cow theft charges in India|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4462130/2-Muslim-men-killed-mob-cow-theft-charges-India.html|accessdate=23 June 2017|publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Two ‘cattle thieves’ lynched in Assam|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/mob-lynches-two-cattle-thieves-in-assam-4634703/|accessdate=23 June 2017|publisher=]|date=1 May 2017}}</ref> Police had registered case against the attackers and arrested two persons for questioning.<ref name="aljazeera" /> | |||
| * June 22, 2017, ]: Three Muslim men were lynched in ] for allegedly trying to steal cows. The men were identified as Sameeruddin Haque, Naseerul Haque and Nasir Haque.<ref>{{cite news|title=Yet again, three Muslim men lynched in West Bengal on suspicion of cow-theft |url=http://twocircles.net/2017jun24/411950.html|accessdate=24 June 2017|publisher=]}}</ref> A police complaint was made by the mother of the deceased Nasir Haque. According to SP Amit Kumar Bharat Rathod, they had arrested 3 people named Asit Basu, Asim Basu and Krishna Poddar and conducting further investigation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Three men beaten to death in West Bengal’s Dinajpur district for allegedly stealing cows|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/west-bengal-three-men-beaten-to-death-in-dinajpur-district-for-allegedly-stealing-cows-4720031/|accessdate=24 June 2017|publisher=]|date=24 June 2017}}</ref> | |||
| ==Response== | |||
| ===Dalits=== | |||
| After an attack on four Dalits in Gujarat in July 2016, thousands of members of the Dalit community took to the streets to protest what they saw was "government inaction".<ref name=Telegraph/> The protests spread across the state. In clashes with the police, one policeman was killed and dozens of protesters were arrested.<ref name=Telegraph>{{cite news|title=Protests rock Gujarat after Hindu vigilantes brutally beat low-caste youths accused of killing cow|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/20/protests-rock-gujarat-after-hindu-vigilantes-brutally-beat-low-c/}}</ref> At least five Dalit youth attempted suicide, one of whom died.<ref name=Telegraph/> | |||
| ===Bharatiya Janata Party=== | |||
| While some have accused Hindu nationalist ] (BJP) of supporting cow vigilantism in India,<ref name= HRW1/> the BJP has denied this. In May 2017, Union Minister and BJP leader ] has said that the BJP does not support cow protection vigilantes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bjp-does-not-support-cow-vigilantes-other-such-groups-smriti-irani-4667128/|title=BJP does not support cow vigilantes, other such groups: Smriti Irani}}</ref> ] has denied allegations that the BJP administration condones vigilantism and said illegal attacks would be punished.<ref name="Risk2">{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-04-19/shuttered-abattoir-a-sign-of-rising-political-risk-in-india|title=Cow-Saving Vigilantes Are a Sign of Rising Political Risk in India|author=Ian Marlow and Bibhudatta Pradhan}}</ref> | |||
| In August 2016, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that cow vigilantism made him angry and condemned it.<ref name="RT">{{cite news|url=https://www.rt.com/news/386769-cow-vigilantes-kill-two-india/|title=‘Cow vigilantes’ kill two men over suspected animal theft in India}}</ref> Modi has been criticized for not doing enough to end the violence.<ref name=RT/> ] says that Modi has condemned vigilante attacks on Dalits but not vigilante attacks on Muslims.<ref>{{cite magazine|author= | |||
| ASAD ASHRAF|title=Cowing down|url=http://www.tehelka.com/2016/08/cowing-down/}}</ref> The '']'' stated that Modi is partly to blame, as he has stoked inflammatory rhetoric over cow slaughter.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vigilante Justice in India|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/28/opinion/vigilante-justice-in-india.html?_r=0|publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
| In November 2016, the BJP-led Haryana government has decided to provide ID cards for cow vigilantes. However they were not issued despite collecting the details of vigilantes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/id-cards-for-cow-vigilantes-funding-hindutva-high-on-haryana-govt-agenda/story-h3reAuh7S798Tqi1p4UldI.html|title=ID cards for cow vigilantes, funding: Hindutva high on Haryana govt agenda|last=|first=|date=2016-11-08|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=2017-05-28|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/gurgaon/cow-vigilantes-rue-delay-in-id-cards-promised-by-haryana-govt/story-D2f1HkVsnYfnJDoWH5xoLM.html|title=Cow vigilantes rue delay in ID cards promised by Haryana govt|last=|first=|date=2017-01-20|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=2017-05-28|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| According to ] and ], many cow protection vigilante groups are allied with the BJP.<ref name=RT/><ref name= HRW1/> According to ], many cow-protection vigilantes attend training camps organized by ], which is BJP's parent organization.<ref>{{cite news|title=A night patrol with India's cow protection vigilantes|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34634892}}</ref> | |||
| ], in '']'', accused BJP officials of justifying vigilantism. He pointed out that after some vigilante attacks, the BJP officials tried to get the police to charge the victims (or their family) for provoking the assault.<ref>{{cite news|author=Mukul Kesavan|title=The cow as cause - Vigilantism and the BJP|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170409/jsp/opinion/story_145303.jsp}}</ref> | |||
| ===Supreme Court of India=== | |||
| Some Indian states are accused of having laws that enable cow protection groups:<ref name=banned>{{cite news|title=‘Should cow vigilantes be banned,’ SC asks 6 states after Rajasthan killing|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/070417/after-rajasthan-killing-sc-seeks-reply-from-6-states-on-banning-cow-vigilantes.html|publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
| *Section 12 of the Gujarat Animal Prevention Act, 1954, | |||
| *Section 13 of Maharashtra Animal Prevention Act, 1976, | |||
| *Section 15 of Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964 | |||
| The above laws provide protection of "persons acting in good faith under the Act". Members of the ] filed a petition with the ] to declare the above laws as "unconstitutional" and to ban cow protection groups.<ref name=banned/> In April 2017, the Supreme Court asked the federal government and that of 6 states to give a response to this petition. | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| ==Notes== | |||
| {{notelist}} | |||
| == References == | == References == | ||
| <!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See https://en.wikipedia.org/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. --> | <!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See https://en.wikipedia.org/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. --> | ||
| {{reflist |
{{reflist}} | ||
| ==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
Revision as of 01:14, 25 June 2017
Cow-based lynching refers to mob lynchings that have occurred in India. Multiple people have been killed by people when they suspect victims have either consumed beef or assisted in slaughtering a cow. The first of it kind happened in on the night of 28 September 2015 in Bisara village near Dadri, Uttar Pradesh. Multiple incidents happened thereafter in various parts of North India.
Events
Dadri mob lynching
Dadri mob lynching refers to case of mob lynching in which a mob of villagers attacked the home of a Muslim man Mohammed Ikhlaq, with sticks and bricks, who they suspected of stealing and slaughtering a stolen cow calf, on the night of 28 September 2015 in Bisara village near Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, India. 52-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq Saifi (Ikhlaq according to some sources) died in that attack and his son, 22-year-old Danish seriously injured.
Jharkhand mob lynching
Jharkhand mob lynching 2016 Jharkhand mob lynching refers to the case of lynching of two Muslim cattle traders by allegedly Cattle-Protection Vigilantes in Balumath forests in Latehar district in Jharkhand on 18 March 2016.
See also
References
- "Indian man lynched over beef rumours". BBC News. 30 September 2015.
- "2 Men Lynched In Assam's Nagaon For Allegedly Trying To Steal Cows". NDTV.com.
- Taseer, Aatish (16 April 2017). "Anatomy of a Lynching". The New York Times.
- "Muslim Cattle Traders Beaten To Death In Ranchi, Bodies Found Hanging From A Tree". Huffington Post India.
- "Another Dadri-like incident? Two Muslims herding cattle killed in Jharkhand; five held". Zee News. 19 March 2016.
- "5 held in Jharkhand killings, section 144 imposed in the area". News18. 19 March 2016.
Further reading
- Chatterji, Saubhadra (30 May 2017). "In the name of cow: Lynching, thrashing, condemnation in three years of BJP rule". Hindustan Times.