Daijiworld Media Network – Raisen

Raisen, Jun 17: Tragedy struck Mehgaon, a small town in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district, as a mob lynching incident over alleged cow smuggling claimed the life of Junaid, a young labourer, and left another critically injured.

The assault occurred post-midnight on June 5, when the two victims were reportedly transporting six to ten cows near Mehgaon temple. They were intercepted by individuals claiming to be part of a cow protection group, who then violently assaulted them.

Eyewitness videos show the gruesome beating, leaving both men barely alive. The victims were rushed to Hamidia Hospital in Bhopal, where Junaid was placed on ventilator support. After nearly two weeks of battling for life, he succumbed to his injuries on June 17. The second man remains in critical condition.

A video showed Dhruv Chaturvedi, claiming to be a gau rakshak, stating, “We risked our lives to save the cows.” In another viral clip, police officer Anandilal Suryavanshi is seen rebuking him: “What you did to your driver – that beating – was wrong.”

Junaid’s father, in deep grief, questioned the lawlessness: “My son was innocent. Even if he was carrying cows, why wasn’t this investigated? Who gave the mob the right to kill?”

According to Sanchi police station in-charge Nitin Ahirwar, three to four accused have been arrested while over 10 others are absconding. A FIR has been filed under serious charges, including attempt to murder and rioting with deadly weapons. A manhunt is underway in Vidisha and surrounding areas.