Cow vigilantes kill one, injure another in Rajasthan

A minority community member was shot dead allegedly by cow vigilantes in Govindgarh in Alwar district in Rajasthan on the suspicion of cow smuggling. Another person was injured in the incident, informed sources said on Sunday.

Although police remained tight-lipped about the incident, sources close to the deceased's family told IANS that the incident occurred most likely on Friday morning when three persons were transporting some cows from Alwar to a village in Bharatpur.

As they reached near Govindgarh, they were stopped by some "gau rakshaks" (cow vigilantes) and attacked with firearms, they said.

One of the persons, Umar, around 35 years old, reportedly died in the firing while the other sustained bullet injuries. He has been admitted to a Haryana hospital.

"The body has been referred to a hospital in Jaipur for post-mortem examination. Only after that we will be able to know the real cause of death. We have filed an FIR against unidentified persons for murder," Anil Beniwal, Circle Office, Alwar told IANS.

He said the body of the deceased was found near a railway track on Friday morning, and as it was not identified, it was kept in an Alwar hospital mortuary. The body was identified by the relatives on Sunday morning.

Alwar Superintendent of Police Rahul Prakash said a case of cow smuggling had also been filed.

"We have also detained one person on charges of murder. Investigations are going on," he added.

Earlier in April, Pehlu Khan was allegedly beaten to death on suspicion of cow smuggling by cow vigilantes in Alwar district.

--IANS

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