Milind Ekbote roughed up by cow vigilantes in Saswad

Ekbote and his followers were allegedly roughed up by a group of 40-50 people

Samasta Hindu Aghadi president Milind Ekbote has lodged a police complaint alleging that he and his supporters were beaten up by ‘cow vigilantes’ over a minor dispute in Saswad, an official said on Wednesday.

Milind Ekbote, president Samasta Hindu Aghadi.(HT/PHOTO)

The alleged incident took place on the temple premises in Zendewadi, Saswad, at 10.30 pm on Tuesday when Ekbote, who is an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case for allegedly inciting violence, went there to attend a programme, the official said.

Ekbote and his followers were allegedly roughed up by a group of 40-50 people.

One of the booked persons has been identified as Pandit Modak, who runs a local “gaurakshan samiti”, to protect cows.

“Ekbote had posted on Facebook about cow vigilantes indulging in malpractices, a few days ago. Modak’s group was not happy about the post,” said senior police inspector Annasaheb Gholap of Saswad police station.

“The attack had nothing to do with his speech during the event. No one was injured majorly during the incident,” Gholap said.

A case under Sections 143, 147, 149, 323, 504, 506 and 295(a) (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act was registered against the group.