Bihar: Cow Vigilantes Attack Muslim Men over Suspected Beef Transport

In Siwan district of Bihar, members of the Gau Raksha Dal allegedly captured and assaulted three Muslim men on May 12 over suspicions of transporting beef. A viral video shows attackers using wooden sticks to beat the men, with one victim bleeding from forehead injuries and an elderly man being kicked to the ground while a mob repeatedly attacked a youth despite his cries of pain.

During the assault, the attackers reportedly used abusive language and questioned the victims about the source of the beef. The cow vigilantes attacked the men in the presence of police officers who were seen attempting to intervene. Despite officials being present, the mob took the law into their own hands before handing the three men over to authorities.

The Siwan police were unavailable for comment on the incident. This case reflects a broader pattern of rising Hindutva vigilantism, with organizations such as Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad frequently targeting the Muslim community.

In a separate incident on May 11, Bajrang Dal members accused 27-year-old Arif Khan of "love jihad" and assaulted and publicly humiliated him for meeting a Hindu woman in a hotel room. The right-wing workers dragged Khan onto the street half-naked, smeared paint and cow dung on his face, and hurled derogatory religious remarks at him.