Prominent attacks by cow vigilantes since 2015

From the Dadri lynching incident to the most recent one at Udupi in Karnataka, a look at 'cow vigilantism' across the country

Representational image.

In the name of protecting cows, the self-proclaimed "cow protectors" unleashed violence in several parts of the country. Though they were isolated incidents, the victims were mostly from minority and socially disadvantaged communities.

The brutal killing of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri on September 28, 2015 by angry villagers following a rumour that his family was in possession of cow meat, highlighted the seriousness of mob attacks in the name of cow protection. The Dadri incident however, was not the first. May 2015 saw Abdul Qureshi in Rajasthan meet his end after he was beaten brutally for selling meat.

Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have reported incidents of cow vigilantism over the last three years. The south of India has also seen its share of such incidents. A Bharatiya Janata Party worker, Praveen Poojary (29), was beaten to death allegedly by activists of the Hindu Jagrana Vedike (HJV) for  transporting cattle at Karjike in Udupi district. 

Here is  a look at other such attacks across the country