Muslim man lynched in India over cattle theft accusation

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A 45-year-old Muslim man was beaten to death by a mob in eastern India’s Jharkhand state after being accused of stealing cattle, in the latest case of vigilante violence linked to cow-related allegations.

The victim, identified as Pappu Ansari, was a resident of a village in Godda district, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI). The attack took place on Wednesday night in Matihani village, located under a neighboring police jurisdiction within the same district.

Police said an investigation is underway to determine the sequence of events and identify those involved in the killing. A senior police official told PTI that authorities are working to establish how the mob formed and what led to the assault.

No arrests had been publicly announced at the time of reporting.

India has witnessed repeated incidents of mob violence over the past decade involving accusations of cattle theft, cow slaughter, or beef consumption — allegations that disproportionately target Muslims and Dalits. 

Human rights groups and legal analysts have documented dozens of lynchings linked to such accusations, often carried out by self-styled Hindu vigilante groups. In many cases, videos of the attacks circulate on social media, while accountability has remained limited.

The Supreme Court of India has previously described mob lynching as a serious threat to the rule of law and directed state governments to take preventive and punitive measures. Despite those orders, incidents continue to be reported from multiple regions.

Jharkhand, a mineral-rich but economically underdeveloped state, has recorded several lynching cases in recent years, prompting repeated calls for stronger enforcement, faster prosecutions, and protection for vulnerable communities.