Caught on Camera: MP Cops Assault, Parade Two Muslim Men Over Cow Slaughter Allegations

Abdul Alim Jafri, TwoCircles.net

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Two Muslim youths in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain district were allegedly assaulted by a group of police officers, who then paraded them through a crowded street for almost a kilometre and forced them into chanting, “Gaay Hamari Mata Hai, Police Hamara Baap Hai (The cow is our mother, and the police are our father).”

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Caught on camera, the disturbing incident has ignited a firestorm of criticism over the state’s alleged deteriorating law and order situation. Meanwhile, the survivors remain traumatised, unable to speak about the ordeal they reportedly endured.

A video of the incident, in which the duo can be seen being beaten by a policeman, has gone viral on social media. In one of the videos, a police officer can be heard questioning the two survivors – Saleem and Aaqib – about the reason for their public humiliation. The duo, in response, state that they were paraded for their alleged involvement in the business of cow slaughter.

Speaking to TwoCircles.net, Ghattya Police Station In-charge DL Dasoria said, “We received a tip-off on the intervening night of February 16-17 regarding a cow slaughter taking place in the Ghattya area of Ujjain. Acting on the information, a team was immediately formed under the instructions of Superintendent of Police Pradeep Sharma, Additional Superintendent of Police Guruprasad Parashar and Deputy Superintendent of Police Bharat Singh Yadav.”

He further stated that the accused, Saleem alias Mithiya, Aqib alias Akku and Sheru Mewati, were preparing to slaughter a cow and a calf using iron rods and knives in an empty plot near Jaithal Tek intersection within the police station’s jurisdiction. However, upon the arrival of some locals, the accused fled the scene in a Baleno car.

“The police swiftly took action, seizing the culprits’ vehicle, mobile phones and the recovered cow meat. While Saleem and Aqib have been arrested, the third suspect remains at large. Teams have been formed to track down and apprehend the remaining accused,” Dasoria added.

A case has been registered against the accused under Crime No. 68/2025, Section 4, 6, 9 of the Cow Slaughter Prohibition Act and 11 (d) of the Animal Cruelty Prevention Act.

The police officer further alleged that both Saleem and Aaqib are “habitual offenders”. “A total of 24 criminal cases are registered in various police stations of Ujjain, Dewas, Shajapur and Indore against Saleem, while four cases are registered against Aaqib alias Akku.”

A Betul-based lawyer, Deepak Bundele, has written to the state Human Rights Commission to take action against police officers for humiliating the Muslim youth on the street and forcing them to chant “Gaay Hamari Mata Hai, Police Hamari Baap Hai”.

“The procession taken out by the police is not only against the basic principles of judicial process but also violates the right to dignity and privacy of the individual under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The parade of any accused by the police is a violation of the principle of dignity, privacy and innocence. Besides, it also violates the provisions of the declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948,” he wrote in the letter seen by TwoCircles.net.

Advocate Deepak, while talking to this reporter, said, “Law and order has collapsed in Madhya Pradesh. The police are also acting like right-wing activists. They should have produced the accused before the court following. Beating and parading them is a violation of human rights and constitutional rights. Earlier, many such cases have come to light when the police persecute people of a particular religion on religious grounds. After this incident, the police were honoured by the Bajrang Dal, which clearly shows the police’s stand.”

Meanwhile, a video of a right-wing activist garlanding and offering sweets to the police officer who allegedly beat up a Muslim youth has gone viral on social media.

In June last year, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated that the government’s strict surveillance on cow slaughter cases had led to the rescue of over 7,000 cows within a month.

“All districts have been directed to enforce these laws rigorously. Anyone found violating the prohibition on cow slaughter will face severe legal consequences. We are also closely monitoring enforcement measures at the state level,” he told the media.

According to an official data, more than 550 cases related to cow slaughter prohibition were registered in July 2024, contributing to the protection of thousands of cattle.

“We have taken decisive action against those involved in such activities, and our crackdown will continue without any leniency,” the chief minister affirmed.

Local Muslim leaders have also condemned the police action of the parade. “This is not just a parade of Saleem and Aaqib, but a message to the entire community that we are vulnerable. We demand immediate and strict action against the guilty officers who think they are above the law,” said Mohammad Asif, a local activist.

Family fears lynching

Ever since the parade of both Muslim youths was taken out in the crowded Ghattya town, nearly 50 km from Ujjain, their families have been in fear that they might be lynched by the right-wing after their identities were revealed by the police.

Aaqib’s relatives in Indore said, “This is an inhuman act. They were assaulted inhumanely due to their religious identity. My brother is in trauma and scared. If he has committed a crime, he should have been dealt in accordance with law. Which legislation says that we can beat and humiliate someone publicly and force them to chant that “cow is our mother, and the police is our father”? If he is proven innocent, who will restore his lost dignity? Or should we accept that Muslims do not have honour in society?”

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