Mob kills 2 Muslims over alleged cow theft

GUWAHATI: A mob in India beat to death two Muslims who were accused of trying to steal cows for slaughter, police said yesterday, the latest incident in a surge of violence blamed on hardline Hindu groups. Some Hindu groups demanded a ban on the slaughter of cows, which many Hindus regard as sacred. Police said the attack happened on Sunday in a village in Assam. About 20 people attacked the two Muslim youth, beating them with sticks, after they were accused of plotting to steal cows.