Dalits Chained, Beaten With Rods for Allegedly Skinning Dead Cow

A video showing the victims being beaten with iron rods and sticks had gone viral on social media platforms.

The victims, belonging to a Dalit community, claim that they were skinning an already dead cow. (Photo: iStockphoto)

A group of Dalits were allegedly beaten up by six persons for skinning a dead cow at a village in Gir Somnath district. The police has arrested three people in relation to the case.

The victims, belonging to a Dalit community at Mota Samadiyara village of Una taluka in Gir Somnath, claimed that they were skinning an already dead cow, while the six accused claimed that the animal was killed before being skinned, police said.

A purported video showing the victims being beaten with iron rods and sticks went viral on social media platforms like WhatsApp. In the video, some people are seen chained to a car, while the accused are seen thrashing them mercilessly.

We have called a team of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) experts and veterinary doctors to ascertain if the cow was already dead before being skinned or was killed for the skin.

KM Joshi,Deputy Superintendent of Police, Gir Somnath district

At least two persons sustained severe head injuries and were referred to Junagadh civil hospital for treatment.

According to an FIR lodged at Una police station, the six accused, identified as Ramesh Giri, Balwant Simer, Ramesh Bhagwan, Rakesh Joshi, Rasikbhai and Nagjibhai Vaniya, came in a car and allegedly started hurling casteist abuses at the group, and then beat them with iron rods and wooden sticks.

According to complainant Vasrambhai Sarvaiya, the accused also looted three mobile phones.

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