Two Muslim cattle traders tortured, hanged in Jharkhand

RANCHI: In another shocking incident provoking violent protests, two Muslim men, who were on their way to a Friday market with eight buffaloes, were tortured and hanged to death in Jharkhand, according to Indian media reports.

Muhammad Mazloom, 35, and Azad Khan, 15, were allegedly hanged from a tree after being tortured in the Jhabbar village of Latehar district near Ranchi on Friday.

The two had their hands tied together behind their backs and their mouths were gagged with a cloth.

Reports were that the attackers were Hindu extremist vigilantes.

India is the world’s largest exporter of beef and its fifth biggest consumer, but the killing of cows is forbidden in some regions, including in the state of Jharkhand, as many Hindus regard the animal as sacred.

Locals claimed the assailants were Hindu radicals. An FIR has been lodged against unknown persons for the murder. 

While the probe is on, it is yet to be investigated if this was a case of business rivalry or cattle loot or something else, Latehar Superintendent of Police Anoop Birthare was quoted in a report.

“The sight suggested that the two of them were subjected to extreme levels of brutality. It means the assailants were moved by extreme hatred,” the police officer was quoted as saying.

The event comes months after the Dadri lynching where a man was murdered for consuming beef.