The Supreme Court today issued notice to Rajasthan, the Centre and five other states on a petition asking for a ban on cow vigilantes.
The other states served notices are Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
The petition filed by Congressman Tehseen Poonwala follows in the wake of national outrage and uproar in the Rajya Sabha over the attack on five Muslims in Alwar, Rajasthan last Saturday by self-appointed “gau rakshaks”. One of the victims, Pehlu Khan, 55, succumbed to his injuries.
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The apex court has called for a detailed reply on the Alwar lynching within three weeks. The next date for hearing is scheduled for May 3.
According to reports Pehlu Khan and others were daily farmers and not cow smugglers. They had documents to show that the cows were purchased at a Jaipur fair and were being transported to Haryana, the home state of the victims.