As policemen watched, two Muslim women were slapped, kicked and abused by Hindu Dal activists in Madhya Pradesh for allegedly carrying beef.
On Tuesday, the mob led by cow vigilantes assaulted the Muslim women until one of them collapsed at Mandsaur railway station even after they had been detained by the police. The spectators for their part filmed the incident on the mobile phones and did nothing to stop the mob from beating up the women.
The hooliganism continued for almost half-an-hour before the police made half-hearted attempts to control the crowd. Police received the information that some women from Jaora travelling with a large quantity of beef to sell in Mandsaur reached the railway station.
A total of 30 kg of meat was recovered from the women that was later on examination by a local doctor found to be of buffalo. Both the women have been produced in the court but no action has been taken against those who publicly assaulted them or the policemen who were at the spot.
In a video that surfaced, the women are cornered by a crowd that is heard screaming, 'Gau Mata Ki Jai'. They are slapped and punched by the women in the mob until one of them collapses.
The women have been charged by the police, because they did not have a permit to sell meat. No action has been taken against those who assaulted the women, or the policemen at the spot.
Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bhupendra Singh told media persons in the State Assembly premises, "No one can take law into their hands. A probe will be conducted." Earlier this month, four Dalit men were flogged, tied to an SUV and paraded for allegedly skinning a dead cow in Una in Gujarat by 'Gau Rakshaks' (cow protectors).