Communal Clashes in Telangana After Hindutva ‘Cow Vigilantes’ Disrupt Cattle Transport Before Bakrid (The Wire)

Nine people have been arrested so far, including two BJP leaders.

Medak town during the clashes. Photo: By arrangement.

By N. Rahul

Hyderabad: Vigilante groups owing allegiance to right-wing Hindutva organisations – which have made it a habit of heightening activities ahead of Bakrid – have done so again, this time making their campaign so loud that it led to a clash between two groups in Medak town of Telangana on Saturday (June 15) evening.

A bandh was observed in the town on Sunday on a call given by the Bharatiya Janata Party, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Hindu Vahini to protest against the alleged moving of cattle to slaughter houses by Muslims as a sacrifice for Bakrid. A dozen people were injured in the clashes between two rival groups when cattle being transported was intersected by members of Go Samraksh Dalam.

Members of the BJP were also allegedly involved in the violence.

The violence

It all started with the movement of cattle from a madrasa to a slaughter house around 6:30 pm on June 15. Forty male oxen were being shifted for sacrifice when men from the Dalam accosted the herd keeper and asked him to surrender the animals. Teenaged boys who were playing cricket in the lane confronted the Dalam members and hit them with bats and stumps.

This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here.

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