Muslim Man In Uttar Pradesh Assaulted By Cow Vigilantes, Booked By Cops

UP Police have filed a counter case - of their own volition - against the victim, Mohammed Shakir, who has been accused of 'mischief by killing an animal'

A Muslim man in the business of transporting and selling meat was assaulted Sunday afternoon in western Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district by a group of men led by a person calling himself a "gau rakshak (cow vigilante)". UP Police have booked the men who carried out the assault - based on a complaint by the victim's brother. However, they have also filed a counter case - of their own volition - against the victim, who has been identified as Mohammed Shakir. The counter case invokes IPC sections relating to 'mischief by killing an animal', 'committing an act likely to spread infection', and 'violation of Covid lockdown guidelines'. A senior police official - a Deputy Superintendent - posted in the area told NDTV Shakir had been arrested but not jailed as the sections invoked against him are 'bailable'.