On Eid al-Adha, when animal sacrifice is a key ritual, fear among Muslim cattle traders was at its peak. In Uttar Pradesh, buffaloes and goats are primarily sacrificed. Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh, home to two major buffalo meat factories, is a key hub for the meat trade; however, recent violence has disrupted business operations across the state.
The recent brutal attack by cow vigilantes on four Muslim meat traders in Aligarh has sent shockwaves through cattle trading communities across the region. Despite transporting legally sourced buffalo meat, traders Nadeem, Aqeel, Arbaz, and Aqil (the driver) were violently assaulted by a right-wing mob.
The attackers scattered their cargo and beat them with belts, iron rods, and sticks. All four sustained serious injuries.
The attack took place in Alahdadpur village on May 24, 2025. The victims, who carried valid documentation from a licensed facility, were stopped en route. Their vehicle was set ablaze. All four, the sole breadwinners for their families, are currently hospitalised in critical condition.
One of the victims, who was merely driving the vehicle, suffered severe injuries and is currently in intensive care at a private hospital. He has not spoken to the media since the attack.
The survivors alleged that even in the presence of police officers in the Harduaganj area, they were beaten. Video footage of the incident has since surfaced on social media.
According to the victims, the attackers initially demanded ₹2 lakh as extortion to let the vehicle pass. Fortunately, intervention by the Akrabad Police forced the mob to flee. Eyewitnesses identified Ramkumar Arya and Arjun, alias “Bholu,” as the ringleaders of the assault.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.