Man beaten for selling beef in Assam

A 68-year-old man was thrashed by a group on Monday for allegedly selling beef in a market in Biswanath in North Assam.

According to an FIR lodged by the victim's brother, a group of 10 to 12 persons surrounded him and beat him up at Madhupur, while he was on his way home. The police said they had started investigation to identify the accused, based on the FIR and video of the incident.

"We have received an FIR and registered a case accordingly. We have convened a meeting tomorrow with the district administration for further action. We want to appeal people not to share the video in social media and help us nab the accused," said a police officer in Biswanath, about 150-km South of Guwahati said.

Police, however, refused to divulge the name of the victim.

A video of the incident, which was shared by many on social media, showed a group of men thrashing the person and asking why he was selling the beef without a licence.

Cow slaughter is not banned in Assam but permission is required from a veterinary officer as only the cows aged over 14 years are allowed to be slaughtered. The state had reported a similar incident last year.