AIKS Strongly Condemned the Brutal Murder by Cow Vigilantes in Palwal, Haryana

AIKS Demanded Haryana State Government Stringent Action Against the Killers and 1 crore Rupees Compensation to the Victims’ Family.

Vijoo Krishnan, General Secretary
Ashok Dhawale, President

On March 4, various newspapers reported another incident of murder of a truck worker Sandeep by cow vigilantes on 22, February 25. This is another case that exposes the truth behind the self-proclaimed cow-protector cow vigilantes. AIKS strongly condemns such brutal attacks on innocent people and demands that the government take strict action against the killers and ensure no more murders by cow vigilante gangs.

Balakisan, who was a truck driver, and Sandeep, an assistant, were transporting milch cows from Rajasthan to Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, in a pickup truck. During their journey, around 11-12 people on motorcycles stopped them in Palwal, beat them up accusing them of being cow smugglers, and later threw them into a canal, thinking they had killed them. Balakisan, who was still alive, somehow managed to swim to safety and reported the crime to the police. Sandeep’s body was found 15 kilometers away from where he was thrown, 15 days after the incident.

Since the arrival of the Modi-led RSS-BJP government at the center, there has been an increase in such incidents. According to reports, this is the 11th such incident since the beginning of Modi’s third term in May 2024, and in these incidents, 11 people have lost their lives. Just last month, on January 25th, Mohammad Yusuf was brutally killed by lynching in Palwal district of Haryana itself.

The poison of hatred being spread by the cow vigilantes’ gangs are creating an environment where people are being murdered and perpetrators of crimes being given protection by the police and administration. Among these attacks over 80 % victims were belonging to Muslim community shows that it is part of a well designed hate crime campaign against minorities.

The union and the state government of Haryana have created an environment where so-called go-rakshaks (cow vigilantes) are deemed as above the law. The role of the RSS-BJP governments in fostering this atmosphere of hatred and creating fear and terror for minorities and Dalits, rather than upholding the rule of law, is undeniable. Such neo-fascist tendency of spreading hatred and promoting communal polarization, which is a major attack on the secular fabric of Indian people. Despite the Supreme Court’s order to curb hate crimes, attacks are continuing. Such attacks are adversely affecting the livelihood of farmers, cattle rearers and cattle traders.

AIKS demands that the central and state governments take strict action against the culprits to put an end to such ongoing incidents. A special law should be introduced to curb these killings by lynching. The families of those who lose their lives in these incidents should be given a compensation of 1 crore, and the injured should receive 25 lakh as compensation. AIKS also demands the removal of restrictions on animal trade.