Hindutva extremists torture elderly Muslim man for carrying meat in train

An elderly Muslim man was brutally attacked by a group of Hindutva extremists on a moving train in India's Maharashtra for carrying buffalo meat.

The victim, identified as Haji Ashraf Munyar, was travelling from a village in Jalgaon to meet his daughter in Kalyan, according to Indian media.

Videos of the incident surfaced on social media, showing the elderly man being assaulted by the extremists, who recorded his forced confession on their phones, accusing him of carrying cow meat.

Munyar had brought buffalo meat, which is legal to eat in India and is slaughtered across the country, in two small containers to take to his daughter's home.

Despite his attempts to clarify that the meat was buffalo, not cow, the attackers accused him of lying and coerced him into admitting he was carrying beef.

The extremists tore the victim's clothes, hurled verbal abuse, and physically assaulted him, while bystanders filmed the incident instead of intervening to help.

The victim’s son, Ashraf, has lodged a complaint with the Igatpuri Railway Police.

TRIGGER WARNING: Following video contains visuals and abusive language that may be disturbing for some viewers.

Haji Ashraf Munyar from a village in Jalgaon District travelling in a train to Kalyan to meet his daughter was abused and badly beaten up by goons in a train near Igatpuri alleging him of carrying beef. pic.twitter.com/uOr3vlqBqB

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) August 30, 2024

Incidents of mob violence against Muslims by Hindutva extremists over cow protection have become increasingly frequent in India. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) third term in power, with an anti-Muslim agenda as a focal point of its election campaign, has raised concerns about the increase in such incidents.