Cow vigilantes beat up four youth in MP, policeman too joins in

Cow vigilantes and a policeman thrashed four youth in Betul district on suspicion of being involved in smuggling of cows.

The incident took place at Dulhara village, about 110 kilometers away from the district headquarters of Betul on Friday, but it came to light when a video clip of the same went viral on social media on Tuesday.

According to sub-divisional officer of police Bhanisdehi Prem Singh Thakur, Suresh Meena, Mohd Sameer, Roopsingh and Mohd Afzal, all residents of Rahat village in Harda district, were taking a bath in a river near Dulhariya village when some villagers thrashed them, levelling allegations of cow smuggling.

The villagers had earlier spotted 18 cattle heads at a tribal’s house and they assumed these were smuggled by the four youth.

The hands of the youth were tied and they were beaten up by cow vigilantes.

The policeman who also beat up the youth is yet to be identified. The cop booked the youth on charges of cow smuggling and sent them to jail.

However, after the video clip went viral on social media on Tuesday, a report under sections 341, 147, 294 and 323 of IPC was lodged by the village chowkidar against the cow vigilantes — Shyam, Manak, Sundar Parate and others.

Additional superintendent of police Ghyanshyam Malviya said the police were investigating the matter.

However, no arrest has been made so far in connection with the second FIR.