India's Cow Protection Squad: Mobs rule as religious debate rages

Published November 11, 2015
Babulal Jangir, a rustic self-styled leader of cow raiders, and Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP
Babulal Jangir, a rustic self-styled leader of cow raiders, and Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP
Volunteers of the vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) inspect a truck on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP
Volunteers of the vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) inspect a truck on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP

TARANAGAR: As a truck screeches to a halt on an Indian highway in the middle of the night, devout young Hindus armed with sticks scramble inside, searching for cows they consider sacred.

Almost every night, the vigilantes lie in wait for suspected cattle smugglers in the desert state of Rajasthan, ready to fight to protect the animals, a revered symbol of India's majority Hindu religion.

Volunteers of the vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) inspect a truck on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP
Volunteers of the vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) inspect a truck on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP

"Smugglers often open fire or try to run us over. I even get death threats but nothing bothers me," said Babulal Jangir, a leader of the Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad).

"My heart beats only for my dear cow mother."

Babulal Jangir, a rustic self-styled leader of cow raiders, looks at his phone with his volunteers of vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) as they plan to inspect trucks on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP
Babulal Jangir, a rustic self-styled leader of cow raiders, looks at his phone with his volunteers of vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) as they plan to inspect trucks on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP

Cow slaughter and consumption of beef are banned in Rajasthan and many other states of officially secular India, which has substantial Muslim and Christian populations.

But the recent killing of at least three Muslims suspected of eating beef or smuggling cows by Hindu mobs have heightened fears of rising violence against India's religious minorities.

The deaths have also sparked a wider debate about growing religious intolerance since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government came to power at general elections last May.

Volunteers of the vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) gather to inspect a truck on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP
Volunteers of the vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) gather to inspect a truck on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP

Dozens of authors have returned India's highest literary award in protest over the rise in violence, which they fear includes the recent murder of a secular intellectual, while petitions demanding government action have attracted signature from scientists, actors and filmmakers.

The government has been accused of failing to rein in Hindu hardliners, while its ministers have at times appeared to be inflaming the debate.

Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered a crushing blow in a weekend state election, in part, analysts say, because of its attempts to polarise voters along religious lines.

A man walks with a cow at a cow shelter owned by Babulal Jangir, a rustic self-styled leader of cow raiders, and Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP
A man walks with a cow at a cow shelter owned by Babulal Jangir, a rustic self-styled leader of cow raiders, and Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP

Beaten to death

In September, a Muslim family was attacked outside Delhi by a group of Hindus after false rumours they were keeping beef in their home.

The father was beaten to death and his son was severely injured.

Several other incidents were reported weeks later, including the killing of a truck driver in northern Himachal Pradesh state for attempting to smuggle cattle to a slaughter house.

Critics say Hindu hardliners and their radical elements have become more emboldened since Modi's landslide victory last year.

Jangir said his squad has grown to some 20,000 members, ranging from farmers to lawyers and teachers, along with a fast growing network of informers prowling Rajasthan's major roads.

Babulal Jangir (2nd L), a rustic self-styled leader of cow raiders stands with his volunteers of the vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) as they get ready to inspect a truck on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP
Babulal Jangir (2nd L), a rustic self-styled leader of cow raiders stands with his volunteers of the vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) as they get ready to inspect a truck on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP

"It is extremely disturbing when ordinary people take the law into their hands," said Zafarul Islam Khan, president of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, a leading Muslim body.

"They right-wing groups have their goons going around saying 'We will dispense justice, there is no need for courts'. What is really sad is that they seem to enjoy police and political patronage," he said.

But Jangir, who runs a furniture business, has no sympathy for beef eaters and his team have no qualms about dispensing "rough justice", usually in the form of beatings.

A cow is reflected at a cow shelter owned by Babulal Jangir. — AFP
A cow is reflected at a cow shelter owned by Babulal Jangir. — AFP

"Anyone who eats cow meat should be handed the death sentence," the 42-year-old said, adjusting buckles on his bullet-proof vest.

On the night an AFP team joined one of their patrols, the mob became heated when cows were found inside a stopped truck.

A volunteer of the vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) wears a bullet proof jacket and holds a stick as they gather to inspect a truck on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP
A volunteer of the vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) wears a bullet proof jacket and holds a stick as they gather to inspect a truck on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP

The anxious driver was finally allowed to proceed when he produced documents showing the cows were headed for a dairy, not an illegal slaughter house or across the border to Bangladesh where beef is in high demand.

Volunteers of the vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) check the documents of a truck driver carrying cows on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP
Volunteers of the vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) check the documents of a truck driver carrying cows on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP

"Our Hindu scriptures say 330 million gods and goddesses reside in one cow," said Manoj Jangir, another squad member, who has a degree in political administration.

'Our blood starts boiling'

The BJP has rejected the violence and denies local media reports the Modi government is moving to introduce a nationwide ban on cow slaughter.

"No one can indulge in any kind of violence. We don't support these groups," GVL Narsimha Rao, a BJP spokesman, told AFP.

Volunteers of the vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) inspect a truck on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP
Volunteers of the vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) inspect a truck on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP

In southern Kerala and the remote northeast — areas with large Christian populations — beef is legally and widely consumed.

But in Rajasthan and other states, eating, killing or selling cows is a non-bailable offence, though the consumption of buffalos is allowed as they are less revered.

A cow is seen inside a truck after being checked by volunteers of the vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) as they inspect trucks on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP
A cow is seen inside a truck after being checked by volunteers of the vigilante group of Gau Raksha Dal (Cow Protection Squad) as they inspect trucks on a highway in Taranagar in the desert state of Rajasthan. — AFP

In western Maharashtra, offenders can be jailed for up to five years.

Still, an illegal trade thrives in trucking cows across the country into Muslim-majority Bangladesh.

"It is a kind of do or die thing for us. When we see how cows are stuffed inside trucks our blood starts boiling," said Maniram Babu, 31, a mechanic and squad member.

"We get very emotional and then we can't stop ourselves from teaching the smugglers a lesson or two."

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