2017 Alwar mob lynching

The 2017 Alwar mob lynching was the attack and murder of Pehlu Khan, a dairy farmer from Nuh district of Haryana, allegedly by a group of 200 cow vigilantes affiliated with right-wing Hindutva groups in Alwar, Rajasthan, India.[3][4][5] Six others who were with Pehlu Khan were also beaten by the cow vigilantes.[6][7]

2017 Alwar mob lynching
Outskirts of the Alwar city, 2008
Alwar
Alwar (India)
LocationAlwar, India
Coordinates27.34°N 76.38°E / 27.34; 76.38
Date5 April 2017[1]
TargetMuslim cattle traders
Attack type
Lynching
Deaths1
Injured6
Perpetratorsmobs affiliated with right-wing Hindutva groups[2]
Part of a series on
Violence against
Muslims in India
Incidents
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Background

[6] The Supreme Court has issued notices to Rajasthan along with four other Indian states (Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Karnataka) and to the central government asking for a ban on such groups.[8] During the attack, Rajasthan and the neighboring state of Haryana were ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party, and cow vigilante groups were active in those states.[9]

Incident

The victim was Pehlu Khan, a 55-year old resident Jaisinghpur village, in Nuh tehsil of Mewat. On 31 March, he left his village for Jaipur to purchase dairy cattle. Khan was one of only 10 dairy farmers in his village, and he was hoping to increase milk production for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.[10]

On 1 April, Khan, along with six others, was returning from Jaipur to his village in Nuh, Haryana, carrying cows and calves. They were allegedly stopped near Jaguwas crossing at Jaipur-Delhi national highway by 200 cow vigilantes. Khan showed a Jaipur civic document as proof the cows had been bought for milk.[3] According to Irshad, the son of Pehlu Khan who with him, "We had all the relevant papers to show that we were carrying the cows for dairy farming.[11] We showed them the receipt of sale and purchase. But they were in no mood to listen to us. They tore our documents and attacked my father in front of my eyes."[12]

Despite the documentation, Khan and others were dragged out of their vehicles.[13] The mob beat them with rods and sticks.[13] Pehlu Khan later died from his injuries, whilst others, though seriously injured, survived.[6][9]

The perpetrators also reportedly robbed the victims of their cellphones and wallets (the victims said they lost Rs. 110,000).[10][13]

Arrests

Police have arrested three people; Kalu Ram aged 44 of Ratanpura, Vipin Yadav aged 19, and Ravindra Yadav aged 30 from Behror.[6] Home Minister Rajnath Singh has assured justice for the lynching incident.[14]

Response

The incident was widely condemned, and many called for the government to crack down on cow-protection vigilante groups.[15]

Government

Rajasthan's Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria defended the cow vigilantes, describing their deed as "alright" and blaming the victims for illegally transporting animals[16] though the victims had documents from Jaipur Municipal Corporation for the purchase of cows.[17] Initially, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also denied the incident and stated "Alwar gau rakshak attack did not happen",[18] but later admitted the incident and tried to clarify his earlier remark.[19]

Federal Minister Hansraj Ahir condemned the incident.[20]

Congress vice President Rahul Gandhi condemned the killing.[15]

Other

Sadhvi Kamal Didi praised the vigilantes accused of carrying out the lynching. Kamal Didi is the president of Rasthriya Mahila Gau Rakshak Dal, a cow-protection group.[21] She equated the accused to popular historical Indian figures like Bhagat Singh and Chandra Shekhar Azad,[21] saying the vigilantes of today will "be known as heroes in the future".[22]

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See also

References
  1. Raj, Suhasini (5 April 2017). "Hindu Cow Vigilantes in Rajasthan, India, Beat Muslim to Death". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  2. "Rajasthan: Five men assaulted by gau rakshaks in Alwar, 1 dead". The Indian Express. 5 April 2017.
  3. "As Minister's Comment Sparks Outrage, A New Video Of Attack By Cow Vigilantes". NDTV. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  4. "One more arrested in Alwar cow vigilantism incident". Daily News and Analysis. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  5. "6 Accused In 2017 Mob Killing Of Pehlu Khan Acquitted By Rajasthan Court". NDTV. NDTV. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  6. "Alwar cow vigilante murder case: 3 arrested". Mint. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  7. "Before we could say anything, we were attacked: Survivor on assault by Alwar cow protection group". The Hindustan Times. 7 April 2017.
  8. "Supreme Court Asked To Ban Cow Vigilantes Amid Anger Over Alwar Killing". NDTV. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  9. "Villagers terrified after Pehlu Khan's brutal lynching".
  10. "Alwar attack: Gau rakshaks killed a dairy farmer, not cattle smuggler".
  11. "Rajasthan cow vigilante beat Muslim man to death; Police books six, launches manhunt". Firstpost. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  12. "Pehlu Khan's little son still awaits father's arrival". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  13. Rituparna Chatterjee. "The Last-Minute Decision That Cost Dairy Farmer Pehlu Khan His Life". Huffington Post.
  14. "Rajnath Singh Promises Justice in Alwar Lynching Case". News18 India. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  15. "Naqvi says version of events on killing of Muslim man by cow vigilantes not true".
  16. "Pehlu Khan killed by gau rakshaks in Alwar: Rajasthan home minister defends the mob". Firstpost. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  17. "Beaten to death for being a dairy farmer". BBC News. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  18. "Alwar gau rakshak attack did not happen: Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi". The Indian Express. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  19. "Alwar lynching: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi explains what he meant by 'didn't happen', Opposition unmoved". The Indian Express. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  20. "After Muslim man dies after attack by cow vigilantes, MoS Ahir condemns incident".
  21. "Sadhvi equates Alwar lynching case accused with Bhagat Singh".
  22. "Alwar lynching: Sadhvi Kamal equates cow vigilantes to Bhagat Singh, calls them 'future heroes'".
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