Assault by ‘gau rakhshaks’: NHRC issues notice to Rajasthan Govt.

New Delhi [India], Apr. 7 : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to the Rajasthan Government over the death of a person due to assault by so called 'gau rakshaks'.

The NHRC has taken suo-motu cognizance of media reports that in Behror area of Rajasthan's Alwar on April 1, a group of so called 'gau rakshaks' attacked some persons dubbing them as cattle smugglers, though they were dairy farmers carrying cows legally purchased under a receipt and stamp of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation.

The brutal assault resulted in the death of a person. However, the Rajasthan Police has reportedly registered an FIR against the victims of assault for illegally transporting cattle for slaughter.

A notice has also been issued to Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi calling for a response as to what steps have been taken or proposed to be taken by the Centre to deal with such incidents in the country.

The response is expected within four weeks. The incident is not the first of its kind, which has come to its notice. Earlier in a similar incident, four Dalit boys, possessing beef, were severely beaten up and dragged in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat in July last year.

Reportedly, the family members of the deceased, a dairy farmer, stated that the victims showed the attackers the receipt of legally purchased cows but they continued to thrash them.

They snatched their wallets and cash of about Rs. one lakh as well as cell phones..

Source: ANI