The Igatpuri police in Nashik district of north Maharashtra have arrested six cow-vigilantes ('gau-rakshaks) for allegedly lynching a 25-year-old man from Thane to death and injuring another on suspicions that they were smuggling cattle.
Identifying the lynch victim as one Lukman Sulaiman Ansari, from Padgha in Thane district, the police said that the horrific incident took place on June 10.
Having found Ansari's body in a 200-metre deep gorge at Ghatandevi in Nashik district, the police swung into action and arrested six cow-vigilantes
Talking to media persons, Nashik (Rural) Superintendent of Police Shahaji Umap said: "On Thursday last (June 8), Ansari, along with his friends Atiq Paddi and Aqueel Gavandi purchased a bullock, two cows and a calf for around Rs 18,000 from a farmer in Shahapur and were transporting them in a LMV tempo to Padgha when the incident took place.
En route, Ansari and his friend were way-laid near Shahapur by numerous self-styled "cow-vigilantes'. "The men who had come there in three cars and some motorcycles attempted to extort money from them. After Ansari and his friend refused to part with money, they hijacked the tempo, "rescued" the four bovines and drove the vehicle to Ghatandevi.
Before leaving the place with bovines, the alleged cow-vigilantes assaulted Ansari and his friend with sticks and iron rods. While Ansari was found dead in a gorge, his friend sustained injuries in the assault.
The arrested accused, allegedly owing affiliation to the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal, have claimed that Ansari died after falling into the gorge.
The police identified the six arrested cow-vigilantes Chetan Sonawane, Pradeep Adhole, Bhaskar Bhagat, Shekhar Gaikwad, Vijay Bhagde and Rupesh Joshi. The police are on the lookout for others involved in the attack.