PATNA: The first-ever attack of such kind took place in Bihar manifesting that Cow Vigilantism has reared its head in the state as the BJP joined the government after the grand alliance collapsed in July.
Seven Muslims were beaten up by Gau Bhakts in West Champaran district of Bihar on Thursday for allegedly consuming beef in their homes.
As per sources, a large crowd of people chanting slogans such as ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ gathered outside the house of Mohammad Shahabuddin at Dumra village under Chanpatia police station, questioned him about where he procured beef from and finally thrashed him with wooden sticks.
50 Vishwa Hindu Parishad members accused Shahabuddin and his neighbours of having consumed beef the previous night after killing a cow.
Apart from Shahabuddin’s family, the Muslim neighbours and others from the community from nearby villages who arrived there within minutes were confined in a room in Shahabuddin’s house and beaten up, said sources.
A police team rushed to Dumra after being informed by a villager and reportedly stopped the attackers from continuing their act. Chanpatia police station SHO Rajesh Jha, Sirisiya police outpost head Kiran Shankar, Gopalpur police station SHO Yusuf Ansari and Bettiah DSP Sanjay Jha had a tough time stopping the mob from continuing with their assault, said sources.
Four people were injured in the attack and sent to the hospital in Bettiah, said a police officer. Kudus Qureshi, the husband of the local village head, Nasruddin Mian, Mustafa Mian, Jehangir Mian, Aslam Ansari, Bablu Mian and Rizwan Mian were arrested and later named as accused in the FIR.
“Seven people have been arrested on charge of deliberately hurting the religious sentiments of the local majority community. We are conducting investigation into the matter,” said Rajesh Jha, the SHO of Chanpatia police station.
“There has been no such complaint about the attack so far,” said Jha on being asked about why no FIR was registered against those who assaulted the Muslims.
On August 3, people belonging to a cow protection vigilante group had intercepted a truck carrying beef from an illegal slaughterhouse and assaulted three Muslims, the truck driver and two others in the vehicle in Bhojpur district.