Raipur, Chhattisgarh – Two truck drivers from Uttar Pradesh were reportedly attacked and killed by a group of individuals believed to be “cow vigilantes.” The incident occurred just days after a new government was elected, as the victims were transporting buffaloes near the temple town of Arang. A third victim survived the attack but sustained injuries and is currently hospitalized.
The lone survivor of the brutal assault recounted how a mob of 14-15 people targeted them, leading to the tragic deaths of two young Muslim men named Chand Miyan and Guddu Khan, along with the injury of Saddam Qureshi. The survivor detailed how their bodies were thrown from a bridge onto a riverbed, prompting him to jump off the bridge to save his own life.
Reports suggest that the vigilantes suspected the truck drivers of smuggling cows, which led to the violent attack. The chase began in Patewa along the Mahasamund-Arang Road and culminated in the assault on the bridge over the Mahanadi River. The victims were severely injured during the altercation, with one victim showing multiple fractures and severe foot damage.
The Raipur Senior Superintendent of Police confirmed that an FIR has been filed regarding the incident, although there is no conclusive evidence of mob lynching as autopsy reports are pending. The police have seized the truck near the bridge and have placed the surviving animals in an animal shelter.
The tragic events unfolded in the early hours of the morning, and police response was delayed by an hour. Upon arrival, one victim was already deceased, while the other two were rushed to a community health center. Despite efforts to save them, one victim succumbed to his injuries at the medical facility.
In a separate incident, trucks carrying animals for Eid-ul-Zuha were reportedly targeted by cow vigilantes in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, escalating tensions in the area. The prevalence of such violence highlights the ongoing challenges faced by minority communities in India, prompting calls for justice and accountability in the face of hate crimes.