Muslim man dies after mob lynching over cattle in central India
Attack caught on video raises fresh alarm over cow vigilantism and impunity in India’s heartland
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A Muslim man has died and another remains in critical condition after a brutal mob attack by suspected cow vigilantes in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
The incident occurred on June 5 in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, where Junaid Khan and his companion Arman were reportedly transporting cattle when a group of 10 to 15 men intercepted their vehicle near Mehangawa village.
The attackers accused the pair of moving cows at night — an act that has increasingly drawn the attention of vigilante groups in parts of India governed by Hindu nationalist parties.
Both men were beaten with rods and sticks, their phones seized, and the attack filmed by the perpetrators. The video was later circulated on social media, triggering public outrage. Police arrived after bystanders alerted authorities and transferred the victims to Hamidia Hospital in Bhopal. Junaid, who was placed on life support, succumbed to his injuries nearly two weeks later, on June 17. Arman remains in critical condition.
A video that surfaced after the assault shows a man named Dhruv Chaturvedi — claiming to be part of a cow protection outfit — stating they “chased the vehicle” and “saved cows” despite being attacked.
In a separate clip, a local police officer is seen reprimanding Chaturvedi, saying, “What you did to your driver – that beating – was wrong,”.
Despite the evidence of mob lynching, the police have not invoked Section 103(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — India’s newly introduced criminal code — which deals specifically with murder committed by a group of five or more. Instead, police filed charges under general sections including 302 (murder), 296 (rioting), and 400 (organized crime).
Junaid’s father rejected the state’s silence. “My son was innocent. He worked as a laborer. Even if he was carrying cows, why couldn’t this be investigated properly? Who gave the mob the right to kill him?” he told the media. According to the family, Junaid worked in the cattle trade and had asked Arman to accompany him that night.
This case adds to a growing list of attacks in India where Muslims have been lynched over allegations of cow smuggling — often with impunity. The absence of legal accountability, despite video evidence, reflects a worsening climate of violence and institutional bias under the guise of “cow protection.”
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