Gau rakshaks beaten up, 7 badly hurt, 20 detained

PUNE: The Ahmednagar police detained around 20 people late on Saturday in connection with an alleged attack on ‘gau rakshaks’ (cow vigilantes) in Shrigonda (100 km from Pune), Maharashtra earlier in the evening.

Seven gau rakshaks were severely injured in the attack and were admitted to a hospital.

Police said the situation in Shrigonda was tense but under control. The administration has deployed heavy police force there and at other sensitive places in Ahmednagar.

Police have registered cases of attempt to murder against the 20 people who will soon be arrested officially.

Police was recording statements of the detained people and more arrests are likely.

A mob had attacked cow protectors when they intercepted a mini truck, which was allegedly transporting cows from Kashti in Ahmednagar district.

Trouble started soon after Shivshankar Swami, a 25-yearold cow activist from Pune, approached police.

Police intercepted the vehicle near Shrigonda and took it to the station.

Twelve cows were allegedly found inside the mini truck. Police have registered offences against the driver, Fatturbhai Shaikh, and his helper, Sajid Gulkab Shaikh.

Tension rose when Swami insisted upon registering a case against the two. Police asked them to wait till senior officials had arrived.

Swami and others were attacked by a mob when they were waiting outside the police station. According to the complaint, mob attacked seven gau rakshaks with sticks and stones.

The seven were bleeding heavily when they were taken to the hospital for treatment, police said. They were shifted to Ahmednagar for further medical treatment.

TENSION BEGAN WHEN SWAMI, A CITYBASED ACTIVIST INSISTED THAT POLICE REGISTER CASE AGAINST THE DRIVER AND HIS HELPER. A MOB ATTACKED SWAMI AND HIS GROUP AS THEY AWAITED POLICE ACTION