Maharashtra Dalit truck driver forced to eat cow dung by alleged cow vigilantes; no arrests yet
In Maharashtra's Jalna district, six men have been booked for allegedly assaulting a Dalit truck driver and forcing him to eat cow dung, after accusing him of attempting to sell a bull. The incident, which occurred in May, came to light only after a video of the assault went viral, prompting the victim to file a formal complaint on Thursday.
The complainant, Parameshwar Suhas Hiwale, a truck driver by profession, told police that he was returning to Jalna with his 11-year-old son and an acquaintance, Narayan Maroti Kamble, who had hired him to purchase a bull from the weekly cattle market at Deulgaon Raja town. The group, identifying themselves as cow protectors and allegedly linked to Bajrang Dal, followed the vehicle on motorcycles and intercepted it in the Kanhaiyanagar area of Jalna.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), one of the accused grabbed Mr. Hiwale by the collar and demanded to know what was in the truck. Mr. Hiwale said the bull had been legally purchased by Mr. Kamble and showed the relevant documents, but the men did not listen and slapped him. When they asked about his name and caste, they allegedly used casteist slurs. One of the accused then fetched cow dung from the back of the truck and forced it into Mr. Hiwale's mouth. The group also attempted to force cow dung on his minor son, but Mr. Hiwale intervened. The accused additionally threatened to strip both father and son, and beat up Mr. Kamble and damaged the vehicle.
The six accused have been identified as Venkatesh Bhagat, Arjun Singh, Shivraj Picchade, Somesh Patil, Yash Sarkate, and Ritesh Deshmukh. A case has been registered at Taluka police station under Sections 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), and 189(2) (unlawful assembly) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Police Inspector Santosh Sable confirmed the registration of the FIR. None of the accused has been arrested so far, and the investigation is ongoing.
Mr. Hiwale also stated that the accused threatened to kill him and his family if he reported the matter to the police. They also accused him of planning to sell the bull to a Muslim butcher — an allegation he denies.
According to police, when they arrived at the spot on May 23, a crowd had gathered. The three victims were taken to a local police station. Deputy Superintendent of Police Anant Kulkarni said the vehicle was found to be transporting three cows and two other cattle in enclosed trailers. The police seized the vehicle and animals and registered a separate complaint under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. That investigation is also under way.
The delay in filing the FIR — more than three months after the incident — has raised questions. The victim said he was threatened and feared for his family's safety. It was only after the video surfaced online that he decided to approach the police.
This incident highlights the continued threat of cow vigilantism, particularly against Dalit communities. The Supreme Court has previously condemned such extrajudicial actions and called for strict action against vigilantes. Legal experts note that the use of casteist abuse and the forced consumption of cow dung constitute grave offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and the police must ensure a fair investigation.
Authorities have assured that the investigation will be thorough. However, the lack of arrests in a case involving such serious allegations has drawn criticism from civil rights groups, who are demanding swift action and protection for the victim and his family.
