"While one may have strongly differing sentiments on the importance of cows, and their slaughter or consumption, the killing of Pehlu Khan by an arbitrary self-appointed group of vigilantes shows us how much we have succeeded in undermining the most basic principles and values on which we have based our nation," the letter reads.
The letter has been written by noted activists Aruna Roy and the country's first Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah among others.
The activists demanded Raje's intervention seeking "arresting all those who attacked Pehlu Khan, putting an end to all vigilantism in the name of cow protection and punishment of police/administrative personnel for dereliction of duty".