In the usually quiet rural roads near Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, a brutal assault in late May 2025 laid bare the dark underbelly of cow vigilantism—a growing menace that threatens the rule of law and communal harmony. Four Muslim men, Akeel, Kadeem, Akil, and Arbaaj, were viciously attacked by a mob linked to Hindutva groups, accused of transporting cow meat. The incident, marked by chilling violence and allegations of extortion, raises urgent questions about law enforcement, communal targeting, and the misuse of cow protection laws in India’s most populous state.

The Assault: A Planned Attack

On May 24, the four men were transporting buffalo meat from Al Ammar Frozen Foods Exports Pvt. Ltd., an Aligarh-based company authorized to process and export buffalo meat, to Atrauli town. Their routine journey took a violent turn near Alhadadpur village.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the victims, a mob led by Ramkumar Arya, a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader, and Arjun Singh, a local BJP leader, intercepted their pickup truck. The assailants, numbering 20-25, demanded Rs 50,000 as extortion. When Akeel and Arbaaj refused, the mob unleashed a savage attack.

Armed with iron rods, sticks, batons, and sharp weapons, the attackers beat the men to a pulp, leaving them bloodied and stripped. Videos of the assault, which surfaced online, showed the victims in a near-death state. The mob looted cash and mobile phones, set the truck ablaze, and held the men hostage until police arrived, prompting the assailants to flee.

Lab reports later confirmed the meat was buffalo, not cow, debunking the mob’s claims. Yet, a counter-complaint filed by one of the assailants against the victims, citing Uttar Pradesh’s cow slaughter ban, remains active, highlighting a troubling legal asymmetry.

A Pattern of Extortion

This was not an isolated incident. The FIR revealed that 15 days prior, the same group had attempted to extort Rs 50,000 from another vehicle linked to Al Ammar, only to be thwarted by Akrabad police. Such recurring attacks suggest cow vigilantism is morphing into an organized extortion racket, exploiting the emotive issue of cow protection to target vulnerable communities, particularly Muslims involved in the meat trade. Al Ammar, a legitimate exporter, operates under strict regulations, yet its workers face relentless harassment.

The FIR names 12 accused, including Arya, Singh, and others like Shivam Hindu, Ravindra alias Bunty, and Luvkush, alongside 20-25 unidentified assailants. Charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita include rioting, extortion by threat of death, dacoity, and abetment, reflecting the gravity of the crime. The involvement of VHP and BJP affiliates underscores the political clout shielding such groups, raising questions about impunity.

The Broader Crisis

The Aligarh assault exposes four critical issues:

1. Unchecked Vigilantism: Cow vigilantism, often cloaked as cultural protectionism, is spiraling into lawlessness. Gau rakshaks, or self-styled cow protectors, operate with apparent impunity, emboldened by lax enforcement and political patronage. Since 2014, such groups have been linked to dozens of lynchings and assaults across India, with Uttar Pradesh as a hotspot.
2. Erosion of Law and Order: The incident questions the state’s ability to uphold the rule of law. The police’s delayed response and the persistence of the assailants’ counter-complaint suggest systemic biases, undermining public trust. Uttar Pradesh, under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has prioritized cow protection laws, but enforcement often appears selective, targeting minorities while sparing vigilantes.
3. Ignorance of Legal Nuances: Many vigilantes lack basic knowledge about bovine meat. Buffalo meat, legal for trade and export, is often mistaken for beef, triggering violence. This ignorance, coupled with zealotry, fuels mob justice, bypassing legal processes.
4. Communal Targeting: Cow protectionism has become a tool to marginalize Muslims, who dominate India’s meat industry. The Aligarh case mirrors a national trend: a 2023 Human Rights Watch report noted that 90% of cow-related violence victims since 2015 were Muslims. Such attacks deepen communal divides, fostering fear and economic disruption.

The Legal and Social Fallout

The Aligarh case has sparked outrage, with some voices demanding stricter action against vigilante groups. The FIR’s invocation of serious charges offers hope, but conviction rates in similar cases remain low—only 4% in cow-related violence cases between 2014 and 2022, per a 2024 study by IndiaSpend. The victims, meanwhile, face trauma and livelihood threats, as meat traders report declining business due to fear.

Uttar Pradesh’s cow slaughter ban, enacted in 1955 and tightened in 2017, prohibits cow killing but permits buffalo meat trade under regulation. Yet, vague enforcement and populist rhetoric blur these distinctions, empowering mobs.

Experts argue for clearer guidelines and public awareness to curb misuse. “The law is being weaponized to settle scores and extort,” says Aligarh-based lawyer Faisal Khan. “Without accountability, this cycle of violence will persist.”

A Call for Reform

The Aligarh assault is a wake-up call. To restore order, Uttar Pradesh must crack down on vigilante groups, ensure swift justice, and educate the public on legal meat trade nuances. Political leaders must eschew divisive rhetoric, and police must act impartially. Failure to act risks further communal strife and a deeper erosion of the rule of law.

As Akeel, one of the victims, recovers in a hospital bed, his words echo a broader plea: “We were just doing our job. Why must we pay with our lives?”

The answer lies in whether Uttar Pradesh chooses justice over mob rule.

FRANK KRISHNER IS A COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST, JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR.

  Cow, crime, HATE CRIME, Muslim, naked truth, VHP