Solapur: 2 Muslim men brutally assaulted, stripped, tied to a tree, made to chant ‘Jai Shree Ram’

Another incident of brutality and impunity took place in Solapur a city in Maharashtra on June 29, during the festival of Bakri Eid. A video has surfaced in which a man can be seen being violently abused by a group of men, beaten by sticks, and tied to a tree, while he begs with his hands folded. Reportedly, two Muslim men were stripped, tied to a tree, and brutally beaten up by cow vigilantes, including members of the Bajrang Dal militia, over suspicion of cow slaughter.  The video was accessed by us on July 7, 2023.

In July, 2018, in the case of Tehseen Poonawalla v Union of India, a unanimous judgment had been delivered by a 3-judge bench of the Supreme Court on increasing incidents of cow-vigilantism in India, and guidelines had been issued to curb and take action against acts of cow vigilantism. And yet, 5 years post the passing of this landmark judgment, the menace of cow vigilantism is nowhere decreasing, and these goons are being given full reign to terrorise and abuse citizens, mostly Muslims, on suspicion of consuming or transporting beef.

The video can be viewed here:

One of the two victims of the said assault continues to be in serious condition due to the injuries suffered by him. A video of the victim speaking to a journalist, narrating the incident and the injuries suffered by him, has also been uploaded on social media. As per the said video, the incident took place on Bakri-Eid when the victim, a Maulana, was sitting in a field with his friend. As it was Bakri Eid, the two were planning to slaughter an animal. As has been understood from his video, shot as he was crying with pain and lying in a hospital, the victim was planning to slaughter a cow from his personal cattle, since he could not afford to buy another animal. It was then that a group of 30-40 people belonging to the Bajrang militia came to his field and starting abusing and beating the two of them.

As had been further purported by the victim, he was also forced to chant the religious slogan of ‘Jai Shree Ram’. At first, the victim was denied chanting the slogan, as a result of which he was beaten more, but even after saying it, he was being beaten up. The victim stated that he was beaten up with sticks and rods, over his back, his legs and his head.

Through the video, the victim has urged for justice. He purported that the violence meted out to him was injustice, and he wants the perpetrators to be put behind bars as there is a threat to life of the victim as well his family. The victim can be heard saying “woh log kuch bhi kar sakte hai (these people are capable of doing anything).” It is essential to note that the victim had also stated the names of the people involved in the attack in the said video.

The video can be viewed here:

Reportedly, a case has been filed against both the parties, the group of Bajrang militia as well as the two Muslim men, who were slaughtering the cow. It is essential to note that as per the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976, cow slaughter is illegal in the state of Maharashtra. Yet, it is further essential to note that if is it proven that the person was committing slaughter of cow, an offence under the said Act, the only punishment that should be granted to them should be the ones prescribed under the Act, of fines or imprisonment, and not illegal beating and violence. Herein, even before the crime of person was proven, this group of goons and self-proclaimed guardians of the Hindu religion, who seem to have given themselves more power than the law, beat up the Muslim men.

Rising cases of cow vigilantism in Maharashtra- encouraged by the ones in power?

Only last week, on June 25, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker, Rahul Narwekar, said he has asked the state police to maintain strict vigil and seal borders to ensure there is no transportation of cattle from neighbouring states and no attack on ‘gau rakshaks’ (cow vigilantes). The speaker also stated that he had asked the police to set up squads to visit and patrol sensitive areas.

Notably, the said statement by the Maharashtra speaker had been made after a 32-year-old man had been lynched allegedly by a group of ‘cow vigilantes’ on suspicion of transporting beef in Maharashtra’s Nashik district on June 24. Reportedly, this was the second incident reported in Nashik in the month of June.

Cow vigilantism incidents were mostly unheard of in the state of Maharashtra. Starting June, such incidents of lynching’s and abuse by cow vigilantes have come forth. Perhaps, the impunity and illegal power that the cow vigilantes seem to hold in the state of Maharashtra can be purported as the reason that these incidents seem to be on the rise.

Related:

Another cow lynching in Nashik, one dead

Maharashtra’s shame: Cow lynching episode reported in Nashik

Madhya Pradesh: Muslim family brutally assalted in Chhindwara

Haryana: More cow vigilantism incidents were reported in April, state district-level special committees fail to act

11 arrests in Nashik for killing man, brutally assaulting another for ‘transporting beef’