Muslim rights group demands action against cow vigilantes in India

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A Muslim rights organization in India’s Gujarat state has demanded action against cow vigilante groups accused of extorting and assaulting livestock transporters, while also seeking accountability for police officers involved in public beatings, humiliating parades and other forms of extrajudicial punishment.

The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) submitted a formal complaint to Gujarat’s Director General of Police on Nov. 3, highlighting incidents of vigilante violence and police brutality across several districts.

MCC convener Mujahid Nafees said such incidents continued despite repeated judicial directives and government orders intended to prevent mob violence and protect citizens from unlawful punishment.

The organization cited incidents in Adalaj, Vadodara, Anand, Siddhpur and Matar, where groups intercepted vehicles transporting buffaloes, goats and animal remains, demanded money from drivers and assaulted transporters.

Cow vigilantism has become a major concern in India, where Hindu extremist groups have used cow protection as a pretext to target Muslims and other marginalized communities through violence, intimidation and economic harassment.

Muslims involved in cattle trading, meat transportation and related businesses have frequently faced attacks by self-styled cow protectors, often operating under the banner of Hindu nationalist organizations.

The MCC also raised concerns about police brutality in Tapi, Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Dwarka and Surat, citing incidents in which individuals were publicly paraded with their hands tied, beaten or subjected to humiliating treatment during police operations.

Among the cases highlighted was the public assault of Mohammad Aziz Sheikh, also known as Rais Sheikh, in Ahmedabad’s Vejalpur area in May 2026.

The organization argued that police officers had no authority to impose public punishment, regardless of the accusations against those detained.

The complaint cited a landmark 2018 Supreme Court judgment directing authorities to prevent mob lynching, protect victims and hold officials accountable for failing to stop vigilante violence.

It also referred to Gujarat High Court directives and a May 12, 2026, circular issued by the state’s police chief ordering disciplinary action against officers involved in human rights violations.

The MCC demanded criminal investigations into vigilante attacks, prosecution of those involved in extortion and violence, and independent inquiries into police misconduct.

It also called for the preservation of CCTV recordings and other evidence, protection for victims and witnesses, increased highway patrols and mandatory human rights training for police personnel.

The organization urged authorities to investigate failures by senior officers to prevent violence or act against those responsible.

Seeking a written, time-bound response from the police chief, the MCC said the rule of law must apply equally to vigilante groups and law enforcement personnel, warning that allegations of criminal activity cannot justify mob violence or extrajudicial punishment.