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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = 2017 Alwar mob lynching
| image = Alwar - panoramio - vivekmangala.jpg
| caption = Outskirts of the Alwar city, 2008
|map= {{Location map|India
|width = 250
|float = right
|label = Alwar
|marksize = 8
|lat_deg = 27.34
|lon_deg = 76.38
}}
| map_caption =
| location = [[Alwar]], India
| coordinates = {{coord|27.34|N|76.38|E}}
| target = Muslim cattle traders
| date = 5 April 2017<ref>{{cite web|last1=Raj|first1=Suhasini|title=Hindu Cow Vigilantes in Rajasthan, India, Beat Muslim to Death|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/05/world/asia/india-cow-mob-hindu-vigilantes.html|website=The New York Times|accessdate=8 April 2017|date=5 April 2017}}</ref>
| time =
| timezone =
| type = Lynching
| fatalities = 1
| injuries = 6
| perps = mobs affiliated with right-wing [[Hindutva]] groups<ref>{{cite news|title=Rajasthan: Five men assaulted by gau rakshaks in Alwar, 1 dead|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajasthan-five-men-assaulted-by-gau-rakshaks-in-alwar-1-dead-4599964/|work=The Indian Express|date=5 April 2017}}</ref>
| susperps =
| weapons =
}}
{{Violence against Muslims in India}}
The '''2017 Alwar mob lynching''' was the attack and murder of '''Pehlu Khan''',{{Clarify timeframe|date=May 2021}} a [[dairy farmer]] from [[Nuh district]] of [[Haryana]], allegedly by a group of 200 [[Cow vigilante violence in India|cow vigilantes]] affiliated with right-wing [[Hindutva]] groups in [[Alwar]], [[Rajasthan]], [[India]].<ref name="ndtv">{{cite news|title=As Minister's Comment Sparks Outrage, A New Video Of Attack By Cow Vigilantes|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/as-ministers-comment-sparks-outrage-a-new-video-of-attack-by-cow-vigilantes-1678325|accessdate=8 April 2017|publisher=[[NDTV]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=One more arrested in Alwar cow vigilantism incident|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-one-more-arrested-in-alwar-cow-vigilantism-incident-2388187|accessdate=8 April 2017|work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|date=8 April 2017}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/alwar-lynching-all-6-men-accused-of-beating-pehlu-khan-to-death-in-2017-acquitted-2085191|title=6 Accused In 2017 Mob Killing Of Pehlu Khan Acquitted By Rajasthan Court|date=14 April 2019|work=NDTV|accessdate=14 April 2019|publisher=[[NDTV]]}}</ref> Six others who were with Pehlu Khan were also beaten by the cow vigilantes.<ref name="mint">{{cite news|title=Alwar cow vigilante murder case: 3 arrested|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/OgvrjZeC8KtyA6SBAOSLZK/Alwar-cow-vigilante-murder-case-3-arrested.html|accessdate=8 April 2017|publisher=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]|date=6 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Before we could say anything, we were attacked: Survivor on assault by Alwar cow protection group|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rajasthan-alwar-lynching-survivor-recounts-horrific-attack-by-hindu-radicals/story-ynvW9XVb8DaQYyYCKwEFYO.html|publisher=[[The Hindustan Times]]|date=7 April 2017|language=en}}</ref>

==Background==
<ref name="mint" /> The [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] has issued notices{{when|reason=Was this before or after the attack?|date=May 2021}} to Rajasthan along with four other Indian states (Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Karnataka) and to the central government asking for a ban on such{{which|date=May 2021}} groups.<ref>{{cite news|title=Supreme Court Asked To Ban Cow Vigilantes Amid Anger Over Alwar Killing|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/on-cow-vigilante-attacks-notice-to-centre-6-states-including-rajasthan-uttar-pradesh-1678459|date=7 April 2017|accessdate=21 October 2018|publisher=[[NDTV]]}}</ref> During the attack,{{Clarify timeframe|date=May 2021}} Rajasthan and the neighboring state of Haryana were ruled by the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], and cow vigilante groups were active in those states.<ref name=terrified/>

==Incident==
The victim was Pehlu Khan, a 55-year old resident Jaisinghpur village, in [[Nuh, Haryana|Nuh tehsil]] of Mewat. On 31 March, he left his village for [[Jaipur]] to purchase [[dairy cattle]]. Khan was one of only 10 dairy farmers in his village, and he was hoping to increase milk production for the upcoming holy month of [[Ramadan]].<ref name=Ramadan>{{cite news|title=Alwar attack: Gau rakshaks killed a dairy farmer, not cattle smuggler|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/alwar-gau-rakshaks-killed-a-dairy-farmer-not-cattle-smuggler-4601434/}}</ref>

On 1 April, Khan, along with six others, was returning from Jaipur to his village in [[Nuh, Haryana]], carrying cows and calves. They were allegedly stopped near Jaguwas crossing at Jaipur-Delhi national highway by 200 cow vigilantes. Khan showed a Jaipur civic document as proof the cows had been bought for milk.<ref name="ndtv" />
According to Irshad, the son of Pehlu Khan who with him, "We had all the relevant papers to show that we were carrying the cows for dairy farming.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rajasthan cow vigilante beat Muslim man to death; Police books six, launches manhunt|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/rajasthan-man-dies-after-cow-vigilantes-brutally-thrash-15-people-in-alwar-district-3368310.html|accessdate=8 April 2017|publisher=[[Firstpost]]|date=5 April 2017}}</ref> We showed them the receipt of sale and purchase. But they were in no mood to listen to us. They tore our documents and attacked my father in front of my eyes."<ref>{{cite news|title=Pehlu Khan's little son still awaits father's arrival|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/605292/pehlu-khans-little-son-still.html|accessdate=8 April 2017|publisher=[[Deccan Herald]]}}</ref>

Despite the documentation, Khan and others were dragged out of their vehicles.<ref name=LastMinute/> The mob beat them with rods and sticks.<ref name=LastMinute/> Pehlu Khan later died from his injuries, whilst others, though seriously injured, survived.<ref name="mint" /><ref name=terrified>{{cite news|title=Villagers terrified after Pehlu Khan's brutal lynching|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/villagers-terrified-after-pehlu-khan-s-brutal-lynching-117040700526_1.html}}</ref>

The perpetrators also reportedly robbed the victims of their cellphones and wallets (the victims said they lost Rs. 110,000).<ref name=Ramadan/><ref name=LastMinute>{{cite news|author=Rituparna Chatterjee|title=The Last-Minute Decision That Cost Dairy Farmer Pehlu Khan His Life|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/04/06/the-last-minute-decision-that-cost-pehlu-khan-dairy-farmer-mist_a_22028045/|publisher=[[Huffington Post]]}}</ref>

==Arrests==
Police have arrested three people; Kalu Ram aged 44 of Ratanpura, Vipin Yadav aged 19, and Ravindra Yadav aged 30 from Behror.<ref name="mint" /> Home Minister [[Rajnath Singh]] has assured justice for the lynching incident.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rajnath Singh Promises Justice in Alwar Lynching Case|url=http://www.news18.com/news/india/rajnath-singh-promises-justice-in-alwar-lynching-case-1369022.html|accessdate=8 April 2017|publisher=[[News18 India]]|date=6 April 2017}}</ref>

==Response==
The incident was widely condemned, and many called for the government to crack down on cow-protection vigilante groups.<ref name=Rahul>{{cite news|title=Naqvi says version of events on killing of Muslim man by cow vigilantes not true|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/alwar-lynching-naqvi-says-version-of-events-on-killing-of-muslim-man-by-cow-vigilantes-not-true/story-EfO82gw8A7AAr5KlHjj0HP.html}}</ref>

===Government===
Rajasthan's Home Minister [[Gulab Chand Kataria]] defended the cow vigilantes, describing their deed as "alright" and blaming the victims for illegally transporting animals<ref>{{cite news|title=Pehlu Khan killed by gau rakshaks in Alwar: Rajasthan home minister defends the mob|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/pehlu-khan-killed-by-gau-rakshaks-in-alwar-rajasthan-home-minister-defends-the-mob-3371150.html|accessdate=8 April 2017|publisher=[[Firstpost]]|date=6 April 2017}}</ref> though the victims had documents from [[Jaipur Municipal Corporation]] for the purchase of cows.<ref>{{cite news|title=Beaten to death for being a dairy farmer|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-39511556|accessdate=8 April 2017|work=[[BBC News]]|date=8 April 2017}}</ref> Initially, [[Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Planning|Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs]] [[Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi]] also denied the incident and stated "Alwar gau rakshak attack did not happen",<ref>{{cite news|title=Alwar gau rakshak attack did not happen: Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/alwar-gau-rakshak-attack-did-not-happen-minister-mukhtar-abbas-naqvi-4601726/|accessdate=8 April 2017|publisher=[[The Indian Express]]|date=6 April 2017}}</ref> but later admitted the incident and tried to clarify his earlier remark.<ref>{{cite news|title=Alwar lynching: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi explains what he meant by 'didn't happen', Opposition unmoved|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/alwar-lynching-mukhtar-abbas-naqvi-explains-what-he-meant-by-didnt-happen-oppn-unmoved-4604367/|accessdate=8 April 2017|publisher=[[The Indian Express]]|date=8 April 2017}}</ref>

Federal Minister Hansraj Ahir condemned the incident.<ref>{{cite news|title=After Muslim man dies after attack by cow vigilantes, MoS Ahir condemns incident|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-mos-ahir-condemns-alwar-incident-says-don-t-support-such-violence-2382771}}</ref>

Congress vice President [[Rahul Gandhi]] condemned the killing.<ref name=Rahul/>

===Other===
Sadhvi Kamal Didi praised the vigilantes accused of carrying out the lynching. Kamal Didi is the president of Rasthriya Mahila Gau Rakshak Dal, a cow-protection group.<ref name="Bhagat">{{cite news|title=Sadhvi equates Alwar lynching case accused with Bhagat Singh|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/sadhvi-equates-alwar-lynching-case-accused-with-bhagat-singh/article18152682.ece}}</ref> She equated the accused to popular historical Indian figures like [[Bhagat Singh]] and [[Chandra Shekhar Azad]],<ref name=Bhagat/> saying the vigilantes of today will "be known as heroes in the future".<ref>{{cite news|title=Alwar lynching: Sadhvi Kamal equates cow vigilantes to Bhagat Singh, calls them 'future heroes'|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/alwar-lynching-sadhvi-kamal-equates-cow-vigilantes-to-bhagat-singh-calls-them-future-heroes/story-ufrfxNS6QoFxGRdqujuSRO.html}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Cow-based lynching]]
* [[Mob lynching]]
* [[2017 Pratapgarh lynching]]
* [[2016 Jharkhand mob lynching]]
* [[2015 Dimapur mob lynching]]
* [[Cattle in religion]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alwar mob lynching}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=2017 crimes in India, 2017 murders in Asia, Alwar district, April 2017 crimes in Asia, April 2017 events in India, Crime in Rajasthan, Religiously motivated violence in India, Murder in India, 2010s murders in India
|description=
}}

[[Category:2017 crimes in India]]
[[Category:2017 murders in Asia]]
[[Category:Alwar district]]
[[Category:Anti-Muslim violence in India|Alwar]]
[[Category:April 2017 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:April 2017 events in India]]
[[Category:Crime in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Lynching deaths in India|Alwar]]
[[Category:Persecution by Hindus|Alwar]]
[[Category:Religiously motivated violence in India]]
[[Category:Murder in India]]
[[Category:2010s murders in India]]

2017 Alwar mob lynching - Revision history

MetaBOT at 19:14, 8 July 2023