The Haryana Police on Tuesday promised strict action against a group of men who allegedly forced two suspected ‘beef transporters’ to eat cow dung earlier this month. However, little progress has been made in identifying the perpetrators.
In a video that surfaced on Tuesday, the two suspected beef transporters — identified as Rizwan and Mukhtiar — were seen trying to gulp down a concoction of cow dung and urine with the help of water even as some men, alleged to be volunteers of the Gurgaon Gau Raksha Dal, forced them to hurry up.
The incident took place near Badarpur Border on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway on June 10. Rizwan and Mukhtiar have since then been in jail after they were reported to the police, which booked them for transporting beef.
The local police, however, came across as slow in identifying the men.
“The video (of the cow dung episode) came to light on Tuesday. We have not received any complaint in this connection so far. But we will identify those men,” Anil Kumar, SHO of Sarai Khwaja police station, told The Hindu.
Hanif Qureshi, the Faridabad Commissioner of Police, said that an FIR and arrests are certain in this case.
“The two men (transporters) are currently in judicial custody. We will seek their help in identifying the suspects,” said Mr. Qureshi.
Meanwhile, Dharmendra Yadav, president of the Gurgaon Gau Rakshak Dal, backtracked on his reported statement to sections of the media that the men involved in the cow dung episode were his volunteers.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Yadav said his men put up check points to nab beef transporters, but none of them touched the two victims seen in the video.
Panchgavya
Driver Rizwan and his helper Mukhtiar appeared to have been beaten up before being served a concoction of cow dung, cow urine, curd, milk and ghee. Known as panchgavya, they were allegedly told that the concoction would purify them.
The video shows the duo trying to eat the panchgavya — served to them in a plastic packet — with the help some water. The assailants were also heard prompting them to chant ‘Gau Mata Ki Jai’, which they did in between bouts of vomiting.
The Haryana Congress first slammed the government’s “inability” to protect the cows before condemning the cow dung episode.
“The State has done nothing for the protection of cow,” said Ashok Tanwar, Haryana Congress president. He then said that the cow dung incident was an “inhuman act” and was possible only because of government support.
