Death linked to cow vigilantes sparks protest in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar

Residents and activists from Galnimb village of Rahuri taluka in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar staged a protest at Kolhar Chowk on Friday (October 31, 2025), demanding a speedy and impartial investigation into the death of a 17-year-old boy belonging to the Dhangar community.

The teenager was found dead on October 28 after allegedly being assaulted by cow vigilantes a day earlier.

According to the victim’s cousin, the Class 12 student had purchased a cow from Chincholi Phata village, about 6-7 km from his home. He was transporting the animal in a vehicle when he was intercepted near Kolhar by four men claiming to be ‘gau rakshaks’.

“These men routinely harass people and extort money ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹5 lakh,” the cousin said. The assailants reportedly called the teenager a cow smuggler, chased and beat him with iron rods and sticks, abused him, and live-streamed the assault on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

In the afternoon, the accused brought the cow and the vehicle to the police station and filed a complaint against the boy, the Loni police said. By evening, the video had gone viral on social media.

“The teen felt humiliated,” said Police Sub-Inspector Sanjay Vikhe.

The next day, around 12 noon, he was found dead in his hut.

A case under Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for abetment of suicide, which prescribes punishment up to life imprisonment or death for inciting the suicide of a minor, is registered. “We searched their homes in Kolhar, Tisgaon, and Loni, but found them locked,” said PSI Vikhe.

The family claims that on the night of October 27, the accused called them demanding ₹15,000 to delete the videos and withdraw the complaint.

The activists allege that the police ignored the sequence and timeline of the events, and the history of violence of the ‘cow vigilantes’. “We met the Superintendent of Police today, he has assured to investigate the matter fairly,” said Dhangar quota activist Vijay Tamnar.

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