Alwar victim, Rafeeq, who is the nephew of Pahlu Khan who died after he was severely attacked by cow vigilantes, shared his side of the story during the press meet organised by JIH at its headquarters 8 April. He said, “We were returning from Jaipur cattle fair after purchasing some cows and calves from Rajasthan government cattle fare to sell milk in our village. We had valid papers from the Municipal authorities which they had charged Rs 800 for this. It was in the evening at 6 pm when we reached Barwad where people on 8 to 10 motorcycles stopped us.”
He further added: “We were five persons in two vehicles. First, they stopped the vehicle in which Pahlu Khan was travelling. They attacked him and took away his ₹35,000. Thereafter they attacked us and looted our ₹40,000. Initially they were only 30 to 40 people but later on, their number increased to more than 3 to 4 hundred. They shouted, ‘kill them’, ‘kill them’. When they wanted to set us on fire, the police reached. Police took us to hospital. The vigilantes also took away our five cows and five calves. They didn’t say anything nor did they enquire about anything, they just started beating us mercilessly. They attacked us with lathi and belts. Police came late there.
“They left non-Muslim driver aside and attacked us. They beat us for nearly half an hour and they have filed a case against us. People from our area had brought cattle from there many times in the past but nothing happened. Some local leaders, including from the BJP, visited us and assured us justice,” said the victim.
Rafeeq told Radiance after the press conference that he is afraid that instead of getting justice he may be punished as a culprit. He has demanded justice from the government and adequate compensation. Meanwhile, the Secretary General of JIH, Muhammad Salim Engineer has assured all help to the victim.
“Cow vigilantes are taking the law in their hands and it seems they have the support of the government because the government has so far remained a mute spectator.” The statement was made by President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari while addressing media persons during the monthly briefing.
While referring to the resolution passed during the recently concluded mid-term session of Jamaat’s Markazi Majlis-e-Numaindagan (Central Council of Representatives), JIH chief said Indian Muslims should remain firm in their faith. Although the law and order situation in the country is slowly deteriorating and there are deliberate attempts to create hatred against Islam and Muslims, the Muslim community of India should avoid any negative response and uncalled-for course of action. Hatred should be answered with love and understanding.
Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Muhammad Salim Engineer condemned the killing of Pehlu Khan at the hands of “gaurakshaks” in Alwar, Rajasthan by saying, Jamaat feels that ever since the BJP-led government has come at the centre, hate crimes and attacks against Muslims and Dalits have increased a lot in the name of cow protection. The number of fake gau-rakshak groups is also increasing. He further added: There is a complete breakdown of law and order and these incidents are becoming a major embarrassment for the country and sullying her image in the comity of nations. Jamaat feels that all this is a result of the communal mindset of the ruling dispensation. The government of the day has failed to curb those polarising society on communal lines and spreading hatred against the Muslim community. Jamaat demands that the Central government must put an end to such incidents and prove its seriousness in maintaining communal harmony in the country.
The JIH Secretary-General also welcomed recent judgment of the Supreme Court in which the sale of liquor has been prohibited along the state and national highways. He reminded efforts of Jamaat across India a number of times because alcohol is termed in Islam as “the mother of all evils”.