Lucknow, September 3: An old man was thrashed by villagers and self-proclaimed Gau Rakshaks or cow vigilantes in Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur district on the suspicion of cow smuggling. This despite the fact that the old man kept pleading to the crowd that he was travelling with his cow for taking it to a veterinary doctor. The old man, while he was being beaten and humiliated by the crowd, kept telling them that he was a Hindu Brahmin when few villagers alleged him to be from a particular community. Cow Vigilantism: Supreme Court Urges Centre To Frame Separate Law On Lynching, Says 'Mobocracy Can't Be Allowed'.

According to reports, someone from the village crowd alleged that the old man was taking his cow to sell it to a Muslim. This further infuriated the crowd which then dumped the old man in gutter and blackened his face. The report also says that the crowd whistled and warned anyone found in cow smuggling of similar consequences.

The 70-year-old Kailash Nath Shukla, who was beaten up by the crowd, is a resident of Balrampur district in Uttar Pradesh. The incident happened when he was taking his old cow to a veterinary doctor and was confronted by villagers in Nandpur village. When the old man, who was beaten with sticks and made to parade with black ink on his face, reached the police station to get his case registered, the police official on duty refused to file a case.

It was only after the interference of the Superintendent of Police (SP) Balrampur, Rajesh Kumar, that a case and inquiry was initiated by the police. As per the information mentioned in media report, four persons have been arrested in the case so far.

The old man who was beaten is recovering in the district hospital. Rajesh Kumar, SP Balrampur, was quoted saying by the media that the case has been lodged and the police is looking for all those involved in beating the old man in the name of cow vigilantism. Officer Rajesh Kumar also added that action will be taken against the policeman who had refused to file a case initially.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 03, 2018 09:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).