Man shepherding buffalo beaten up in J&K, incident not linked to vigilantism, say police

A 65-year-old man was allegedly attacked by a family while he was taking a buffalo to his home in Jammu and Kashmir’s Banihal, police said on Monday, dismissing social media reports linking the incident to cow vigilantism. Three of the accused were arrested, police said.

A 65-year-old man was allegedly attacked by a family while he was taking a buffalo to his home in Jammu and Kashmir’s Banihal, police said on Monday, dismissing social media reports linking the incident to cow vigilantism.

The injured person was discharged from hospital after treatment and three of the accused were arrested.(Getty Images/Picture for representation)

Three of the accused were arrested, police said.

Abdul Hamid Sheikh had purchased a buffalo from a local Gujjar for domestic use and was allegedly intercepted by Parbhat Singh at Inhar village in Ramban district on Sunday evening, police said in a statement. 

A scuffle followed a heated argument between the two and Singh was later joined by some other members of the family who attacked Sheikh, they said. 

“As soon as the matter came to the notice of police, a party led by local station house officer immediately rushed to the spot. Sheikh was shifted to a hospital for medical treatment and a case was registered against the assailants,” the statement said.

“No lynching by any mob has taken place and the injured person has been discharged from hospital after medical treatment,” police said.

Banihal sub-divisional police officer Sajjad Sarwar identified the arrested persons as Prabhat Singh, Dharam Singh and Sandeep Singh.

Meanwhile, Aman Committee, Pogal-Paristan, comprising local Hindu and Muslim residents condemned the incident and vowed to maintain peace in the region.