In yet another instance of how cow smugglers create havoc in the society, a Muslim gau-rakshak (cow vigilante) tried to immolate himself outside the office of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Meerut alleging police inaction against the murderers of his brother, who was also fighting for the cow protection.
The family of 35-year-old Asif Bharti, a resident of Neecha Sadeeq Nagar in Meerut, has been instrumental in the sealing more than 200 illegal slaughterhouses in their locality where cows were allegedly being slaughtered. This made Asif’s family a target for the cow smugglers and beef mafia.
Asif’s brother Dilshad was killed two and half years ago by criminals suspected to be aligned with the beef mafia. Dilshad, who was also a cow vigilante, was shot in his head on June 27, 2014 just outside his house. He succumbed to his injuries on January 22, 2015 after struggling for life for nearly seven months in various hospitals in Meerut and Noida.
Family alleges that they are still at the target of the beef mafia. Imran, a member of the gau-rakshak family and another brother of Asif, was fired at attacked recently by the family members of the suspected killers of Dilshad. The family has registered an FIR in the case naming three accused – Abrar, Iqbal and Nawab – a week ago, but police has not arrested anyone.
Family accuses the police of being hand-in-gloves with the accused, but the police denies the charges. A video of the attempted suicide was recorded by media persons present at the police station:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yUhI-Tq7XA
