An elderly man, identified as Haji Ashraf Munyar from Jalgaon, was subjected to a brutal assault by fellow passengers on the Dhule-CSMT Express train near Igatpuri, Nashik district.
The incident, which unfolded on August 28, 2024, was sparked by accusations that he was carrying beef, a meat considered sacred by many Hindus in India due to the reverence for cows. However, the meat in question was later confirmed to be buffalo meat, which is not banned in Maharashtra.
The altercation began over a seating dispute but escalated when some passengers noticed Munyar’s meat and wrongly identified it as beef. Despite Munyar’s pleas that it was goat meat, the situation deteriorated, leading to physical and verbal abuse.
The attackers, numbering over a dozen, slapped, kicked, and verbally assaulted him, all while recording the incident. This video subsequently went viral on social media platforms, drawing widespread condemnation.
Police Response
The Government Railway Police (GRP) in Thane registered an FIR against more than five individuals involved in the assault. The police have identified some of the assailants through CCTV footage and the viral video. They are currently pursuing the remaining accused.
The police’s preliminary investigation confirmed that the meat was buffalo, not cow, meat, which is legally permissible for consumption in Maharashtra.
An elderly man named Haji Ashraf Munyar from Jalgaon was attacked by other passengers on a train while he was on his way to visit his daughter in Kalyan.
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The attackers suspected him of carrying beef. The police have identified those who assaulted him, but they haven’t filed a formal complaint yet.
“We have taken cognisance of the video and identified the victim. Some of the people involved in the attack have also been identified, and a probe is on,” an official said.
Public and Political Reaction
The incident has ignited a debate on mob violence, religious sensitivities, and the enforcement of dietary laws in India. Political figures and social activists have criticized the attack, highlighting issues of mob justice and the misinterpretation of dietary laws.
The opposition has used this incident to critique the government’s handling of law and order, especially concerning minority rights.
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Reacting to the incident, AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel said there was a need to stand and “counter these forces” as such incidents had become a normal trend.
“We just can’t be mute spectators. It’s high time we, all secular Indians, should come together to defeat these forces. How so much poison has spread among these men and how could they even think of doing such a thing to somebody who maybe their grandfathers’ age,” the Aurangabad MP tweeted.
“Enough of giving memorandums and expressing our anger on social media. If the government and police are turning a blind eye, then we as a community need to stand and counter these forces. It has become a normal trend now and we as Indians our doing nothing,” he further said.
Legal Implications
This case adds to the ongoing discourse about cow vigilantism in India, where individuals or groups take it upon themselves to enforce bans on cow slaughter or beef consumption, often leading to violence. The police’s action in this case, including registering an FIR and identifying the attackers, reflects a response to public outcry and legal accountability.
