Crime & Justice

Man accused of transporting beef lynched in India

New Delhi, Jun 30 (EFE).- A man died in northern India after being lynched by a mob for allegedly transporting beef, the police said on Friday.

This is the second incident of this type in less than a week in the South Asian country, where cows are seen as holy by the majority Hindu population.

Mohammad Zahiruddin was transporting animal bones in a van, which broke down in the village of Bangra in Bihar state, according to a police statement.

Zahiruddin was beaten and injured by the mob, and died during medical treatment, the authorities said, adding that seven people had been arrested in connection to the incident.

The incident comes after a crowd lynched a 32-year-old Muslim last Saturday and wounded his companion after accusing them of smuggling beef, in the state of Maharashtra in western India.

The slaughter of cows is banned in most parts of the Asian country.

In March, the Maharashtra government approved a proposal allowing the police to stop and search any vehicle suspected of transporting cows, bulls or bullocks for slaughter.

The Asian country recorded an increase in lynchings in 2018, which led the Supreme Court to condemn such incidents and call on the Parliament to create a specific law against such incidents.

In several cases, lynchings took place as a result of rumors on Whatsapp and other social media of child abductors operating nearby.

Moreover, the lynchings for allegedly transporting beef are often carried out by so called “cow vigilantes” of the ultra-right wing Hindus, many of these with ties to the ruling BJP party led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. EFE

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