Human rights group demands India prosecute attacks over cows

Cows are revered in the Hindu scriptures as the 'mother' of civilisation and many worshippers equate the slaughter of cows or eating beef as blasphemy. (AFP)

NEW DELHI: A human rights group on Friday expressed concern over rising brutal attacks in India by self-appointed “cow protectors” against Muslims and lower castes over rumors that they sold, bought or killed cows for beef.
Human Rights Watch said Indian authorities should promptly investigate the attacks and prosecute those responsible or face allegations of complicity. Many critics allege the vigilantes are linked to extremist Hindu groups affiliated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
“The police, too often, have filed complaints against the assault victims, their relatives, and associates under laws banning cow slaughter,” the group said.
Hindus, who form 80 percent of India’s 1.3 billion population, consider cows to be sacred and for many eating beef is taboo. In many Indian states, the slaughtering of cows and selling of beef is either restricted or banned
Human Rights Watch said that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government came to power in May 2014, at least 10 Muslims have been killed in mob attacks in seven separate incidents of mob violence related to allegations over cows.
Modi has condemned the attacks and his party, which also runs various state governments, has promised swift action against the offenders, but the attacks continue.
Vigilante groups have become active in small towns and cities across India. Lower castes usually carry out undesirable tasks such as skinning dead animals, and many work in the leather industry.
“Self-appointed ‘cow protectors’ driven by irresponsible populism are killing people and terrorizing minority communities,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch.