Four persons were allegedly thrashed by a vigilante group on the suspicion of being cow smugglers in a tribal village in Betul district. The incident came to fore after a video in this regard went viral on the social media.
The alleged cow smugglers were arrested but the assailants are absconding. After a video of the incident, which reportedly took place last week, went viral on social media, police registered separate cases against the assailants as well as the alleged cow smugglers.
The video showed the four youths tied up and being beaten brutally in front of a crowd at the village, about 110 km from Betul district headquarters.
Sub Divisional Officer of Police Prem Singh Thakur said yesterday that, "A case was registered against Shyam, Manak, Sundar Parate and others (part of the cow vigilante group) for assault". All of them were absconding.
Besides, another case was registered against the four persons, all residents of Rehatgao in neighbouring Harda district, for alleged cow smuggling, he said. “These cow smugglers have been arrested. We are investigating the video clip, and will take further action accordingly,” the police officer said.