CPM renews call for banning cow vigilante groups

The CPM on Monday renewed its call for banning cow vigilante groups after the killing of a farmer in Rajasthan who was transporting cows.

Condemning the killing of Ummar Khan, the party Polit Bureau said the central and state governments are not implementing the Supreme Court's directives to prevent cow vigilantism.

"The Centre should ban all such gangs indulging in cow vigilantism and moral policing," the party said.

Khan's family has claimed that cow vigilantes killed him while transporting cows from Alwar to Bharatpur.  Khan's bullet-ridden body was found on a railway track.

The CPM said Khan, a farmer, who was attacked along with Tahir Khan and Javed Khan, with whom he had purchased cows in Alwar, were targeted.

"All three of them were beaten and also shot at by so-called gau rakshaks. It is more shocking that the Rajasthan Police registered a case against the victims and has allowed the vigilantes to go scot-free," a statement said.

Reminding the government of the Supreme Court's instructions, the CPM said in every district a senior police officer should be designated to be responsible for such incidents and that proper compensation should be  given to victims.