India: Man Beaten To Death Over Cow Slaughter Rumors

In yet another incident, alleged cow vigilantes have beaten up two Muslim men in the northern Uttar Pradesh state.



One of the victims has succumbed to his injuries, while the second is in the hospital with severe injuries, local media reported Wednesday.



The incident apparently took place on Monday in Bajhera Khurd village of the Hapur district, near the capital New Delhi.



A video, purportedly of the incident, has also gone viral on social media in which a man is seen lying in a field with his clothes torn and asking for water. However, no water was given to him.



Another voice can be heard saying: "You have assaulted him, enough is enough. There are consequences."



The victims have been identified as 45-year old Qasim and 60-year-old Samiuddin.



"My uncle [Samiuddin] was cutting grass for cattle feed on his farm. Qasim was coming from somewhere else and since he knew him he came to the farm to talk to him," Mohammed Waqil told Anadolu Agency.



"Then the villagers arrived and accused them of cow slaughter. They were beaten very badly."



According to media reports, they were beaten and dragged for nearly a kilometer to a temple complex. Police then reportedly rescued them and rushed them to the hospital.



However, police have denied that they were attacked over the slaughter of cows. The police said that a road accident was the reason for the attack.



Qasim's body was handed over to his family after post-mortem. He was buried on Tuesday night.



India has witnessed several incidents of killings over cow smuggling or beef eating in the last few years.



In 2015, a mob killed a Muslim, Mohammad Akhlaq, in Uttar Pradesh on suspicion that he was storing beef in his refrigerator.



Since then, many such incidents have been reported from different parts of the country. Extreme Hindu organizations said to be associated with such incidents have benefitted from the support of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. -