Muslim man shot dead by cow vigilantes in India

JAIPUR: A Muslim man transporting cows was allegedly shot dead by cow vigilantes and another was left injured on Friday in Alwar district of Rajasthan, Indian media reported.

The deceased was identified as Umar Khan and his aide, Tahir Khan. Both were transporting four cows in a pick-up truck from Alwar to Ghatmika village in Bharatpur district, when they were attacked by a crowd.

The two persons were allegedly assaulted and shot at, leading to Umar Khan’s death.

The cow vigilantes allegedly threw Umar Khan’s body on a railway track to show it as an accident. Police brought the body to a hospital in Alwar on Saturday after it was damaged by a train running over it.

The two men belong to the Meo Muslim community, which has a significant strength in the Mewat region spread over Rajasthan, Haryana and some parts of Uttar Pradesh.

Umar’s relatives and members of the Meo community have reportedly refused to accept the body from the hospital’s mortuary where it is kept at present.

Tahir, who escaped from the spot, has reportedly been admitted to a private hospital at Ferozepur Jhirka in neighbouring Haryana.

District Congress minority cell president Jamshed Khan, who was leading the protesters outside the hospital in Alwar alleged that the policemen, who were present at the scene of crime, did not take any action to stop the attackers.

Umar Khan’s family members, who gave a complaint to the police, were still waiting for registration of first information report in the case.

In April , 55-year-old dairy farmer Pehlu Khan from Haryana was assaulted by cow vigilantes the same place and succumbed to his injuries two days later.