Cow vigilantes target sikh driver in Punjab, widening attacks beyond Muslims
New Delhi: In a disturbing expansion of violence initially directed at Muslims, cow vigilantes have now targeted members of India’s Sikh community.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a fresh incident in Mansa, Punjab, a Sikh truck driver was assaulted by cow vigilantes for transporting cattle. The attackers not only subjected the driver to physical violence but also desecrated his turban, a sacred symbol in Sikhism.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, the vigilantes can be seen harassing the driver, hurling abuses, and making derogatory remarks, questioning his faith in a highly offensive manner. “Tera papa Mulla tha kya?” one of the attackers is heard saying, implying that the driver has Muslim ancestry, a taunt meant to humiliate him further. The group then forcibly removes his turban, a grave insult within the Sikh community.
Social media outcry followed the incident, with users tagging Punjab officials and questioning the state’s ability to ensure safety and prevent such extremist behavior.
“A Sikh driver & his helper who were transporting their animals were beaten, their beards & turbans desecrated by cow vigilante goons in Mansa, Punjab,” tweeted a user. Public calls for action against the attackers have since mounted, demanding accountability from Punjab’s leadership.
The same day, a similar incident occurred in Mahesana, Gujarat, where three Muslim men faced brutal violence from cow vigilantes. A video shows a large group of individuals attacking the men with wooden logs as they transported cattle through a village. The victims are seen pleading for mercy while the assailants continue their relentless assault.
These incidents are part of a broader pattern of vigilante violence across India, primarily in BJP-ruled states.
The attacks in Punjab and Gujarat highlight the escalation and spread of mob violence under the guise of cow protection, drawing growing concern about the lawlessness and impunity with which vigilante groups operate across India.
