Man Allegedly Shot Dead & Thrown On Railway Tracks By Cow Vigilantes In Rajasthan, Alwar

A 35-year-old man, Umar Khan was allegedly shot dead on Friday, November 10, by a group of self-proclaimed gau rakshaks in Alwar, Rajasthan and later thrown on Railway tracks to make the murder look like an accident.

A report by News18 says that the Muslim man was transporting cows in Fahari village near Govindgarh in Alwar district with two others when they were ambushed by a mob and assaulted.

Umar’s dismembered body was found on Railway tracks by the police. His family claimed that he was thrashed and shot dead by a crowd of cow vigilantes while he was transporting cows to his native village. While the police remained tight-lipped about the alleged murder, News18 reports that official sources confirm that Umar died of a bullet wound. The Indian Express also reports that medical officials have confirmed that he was shot dead.

The two others suffered minor injuries and ran away from the scene. One of them is admitted to a hospital in Haryana while the other is yet to be located.

An FIR was lodged under The Rajasthan Bovine Animal (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Act, against the alleged cow smugglers on Friday and the vehicle sent to Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Alwar SP Rahul Prakash said, reported The Indian Express.

Circle Officer, Alwar South, Anil Beniwal said that “the pickup had three cows and three calves – one of the cows was dead. The front two tyres were missing and both rear tyres were punctured. Later, a dead body was also found about 15 kilometres away in Ramgarh area by the railway tracks. His relatives identified him as Umar, aged about 35 years, and hailing from Bharatpur.”

He added that a second FIR was lodged on Sunday, November 12, under IPC section 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) following a complaint by Umar’s family members. His relatives allege that policemen too were present when the crime took place but did nothing to stop the attackers. They have demanded immediate arrest of the accused.

Earlier this year, Pehlu Khan was lynched by 200 cow vigilantes in Alwar while he was returning home after purchasing two cows and two calves from Jaipur cattle fair. Only three were arrested.

One suspect has been arrested by the police for the murder of Umar, said the State Home Minister who also added that Rajasthan does not have enough manpower to control every situation in all cities in time.

The Logical Indian take

Incidents like these capture the very mood of the country that is ready to take the most severe of measures to justify their antagonism under the veil of holy sanctity of cows.

We live in a country where cows are abandoned when their milch days are over and they’re left to feed on plastic bags or are run over by cars. Amidst this, the Rajasthan government had earlier this year released an order to impose a cow cess (tax) of 10% on the stamp duty on all non-judicial instruments with effect from April. The tax was announced just days after the death of Pehlu Khan and months after the state education minister had said that ‘cow is the only animal to inhale and exhale oxygen.’

Rajasthan government’s hypocrisy is dangerous. Resorting to bovine politics and playing into people’s religious sentiments buoys the courage of criminals.

Lynchings and mob justice are huge threats to a democracy; only by taking strict action against such goons can we ensure that the rule of law is upheld.