Two Muslim men were allegedly beaten, tied up, and made to squat by members of a Hindutva group, accompanied by some BJP workers, in West Bengal’s Durgapur on Friday after they were seen transporting cattle, including cows, for agricultural purposes.
A case has been registered against BJP youth wing leader Parijat Ganguly and others, with two individuals already arrested in connection with the assault.
The video of the incident that went viral on social media shows self-proclaimed cow vigilantes led by Parijat Ganguly assaulting Muslim men, beating them, tying their hands, and forcing them to do sit-ups while holding their ears.
BJP workers forcefully released the cows purchased from a weekly market in Bankura’s Hatashuria village, despite the men showing valid documents.
They also allegedly snatched money and documents from them.
The persecuted men, who are residents and registered voters of Jemua village near Durgapur, were also wrongly accused of being Bangladeshis by the cow vigilantes.
“A case has been registered over the incident and two of the miscreants have already been arrested. Raids are on to apprehend all those involved. None will be spared,” said West Bengal Police.
The police asserted that “nothing and no one will be allowed to dent our state’s tradition of inclusivity and harmony. We always have, and always will, demonstrate zero tolerance for religious bigotry of any kind. Let that message be loud and clear.”
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.