NHRC asks Centre about action taken against cow vigilantes

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Centre to inform them about the action taken against cow vigilantism, following a complaint it received citing at least 15 attacks on people this year.

Delhi-based lawyer K R Subhash Chandran had approached the NHRC last month seeking action against such groups, armed with data in which he claimed that at least three people were killed and around 40 physically attacked by cow vigilantes.

Acting on the complaint, the NHRC has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to take appropriate action within eight weeks.

“The authority concerned is directed to take appropriate action within eight weeks and inform the complainant of the action taken in the matter,” the NHRC communique to the MHA said.

The complaint submitted to the NHRC said the lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq at his home in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, on September 2015 on suspicion that he consumed beef was followed by “rash of attacks by cow vigilante groups” across north India.

“At least three people have been killed this year so far, and several beaten, flogged and subjected to severe indignities. Recently in Gujarat, the flogging of Dalits for skinning a dead cow has triggered spontaneous street protests by the Dalits and minorities,” it said.