In Biswanath district of Assam on Wednesday, an angry mob of about 20 attacked four people on the suspicion that they were transporting stolen cows, killing one and injuring three.
The incident was recorded on a video, where the victims can be seen pleading to be spared. According to a report by Hindustan Times, a police officer said that four persons from Sootea were travelling in a tempo van when they were attacked by a mob at 4:00am. Locals allege the victims had stolen cows.
The police have registered a case of “cow-smuggling” against the victims. While they maintain that stolen cows were recovered from their vehicle, one of the victims has a different story to tell. “We were on our way to buy pigs from Diplunga tea estate early on Wednesday morning when a mob armed with sticks, iron rods etc. stopped us and started attacking, accusing us of being cow thieves,” the victim said.
Three of the victims — Phoolchand Sahu, Bijoy Nayak and Pujen Rajbongshi — are currently receiving treatment and Deben Rajbongshi died on his way to the hospital. All four of them are from the Adivasi community and work on a tea-estate in the area.
Although no-one has been arrested in relation to the attack, the superintendent of police in Biswanath district has said that they have launched an investigation and are looking for the culprits.