Vigilante justice

THE recent killings in Haryana, allegedly at the hands of cow vigilantes, have reignited a critical debate on the dangerous interplay of religious fervour and law enforcement in India. In two incidents within a span of a few days in the state, a student of Class XII, Aryan Mishra, was gunned down and a 26-year-old migrant worker, Sabir Malik, beaten to death by self-appointed protectors of the cow. Aryan was out with friends when they were chased by a group of cow vigilantes, who mistook them for cattle smugglers. The group was relentlessly pursued for 30 km before Aryan was shot dead in Faridabad. In the other tragic loss to senseless violence, Sabir, suspected of eating beef, was lured to a bus stand and then lynched by the vigilantes in Charkhi Dadri.

These incidents are a part of a broader and disturbing trend that has taken root. Cow vigilantism, which ostensibly aims to protect an animal considered sacred in Hinduism, has increasingly become a pretext for extrajudicial violence, mostly targeting a minority community. Efforts have been made to curb it, including arrests and legal proceedings, Supreme Court directives for stricter enforcement and pressure on governments to act. However, inconsistent implementation and the political influence of vigilante groups hinder progress, leaving members of the minority community vulnerable to violence.

The rise of cow vigilante mobs correlates with the growing influence of Hindu hardliners in the past decade. These groups operate with alarming impunity, often sidestepping law enforcement and judicial processes. The fact that several of their leaders have found success in local politics in the past seven years raises troubling questions about the erosion of democratic principles and the protection of minority rights. The government must act decisively to curb this menace before it further destabilises social harmony.