Three men, who were allegedly assaulted in Delhi's Kalkaji area while transporting buffaloes in a truck to the Ghazipur mandi, today stuck to their claim that they were roughed up by animal rights activists and not locals.
Rizwan, the truck driver, still shudders as he recalls the night of April 22 when his vehicle was intercepted by the "animal rights activists" who then went on to physically assault him and two others in the truck.
Yesterday, Saurabh Gupta, who claims to be a member of the People For Animals (PFA), an NGO, had claimed that the trio was beaten up by the locals while they had reached the spot much later.
The NGO though has denied any association with Gupta or any of the attackers.
The trio today refuted Gupta's claim.
"It was not the locals, but those who got off the cars with PFA stickers, who beat us black and blue. We were fearing for our lives," Rizwan told PTI.
He claimed that the attackers were saying "you are smuggling cows, we will teach you a lesson" and even made disparaging remarks against Muslims.
"The locals, in fact, intervened and questioned the attackers who told them that we were indulging in illegal activities by transporting cows.
"When the locals saw that the animals in the truck were buffaloes, they tried to pacify the attackers, but in vain," said Rizwan.
He claimed that of late, it had almost become a norm that "self-proclaimed cow vigilantes" would stop vehicles transporting cattle and assault the passengers.
"This is goondaism in the name of cow protection. Our ancestors have been in this business. The situation was never like this earlier.
"In the last four-five months, these attacks have become a routine affair and many in the business of cattle transportation from our village in Pataudi have been at the receiving end of such attacks," said Rizwan.
The trio also alleged that the attackers robbed them of their cell phones and around Rs 6,000 but said it was not included in the police complaint lodged by them.
"The only design of these people is to rob innocents in the name of cow vigilantism. They incite people in the name of cows," Rizwan said, adding that they never thought that they would come under such an attack in a city like Delhi.
Ashu, who was accompanying Rizwan on the night of April 22, said his family members remained constantly worried whenever he was out on work ever since a similar incident was reported from Rajasthan's Alwar district.
"They keep calling me inquiring about my safety. We kept hearing about such attacks but never thought we would be at the receiving end of one," he said.
Earlier this month, one Pehlu Khan (55) was killed and four others, including his two sons, were injured after they were allegedly beaten up brutally by cow vigilantes in Alwar.
Buying and selling cattle had been their family business for decades and they had no other means of livelihood, said Ashu.
"Our forefathers started this business and we cannot suddenly shut shop one day and start doing something else. We are illiterates and have no means of earning money," he added.
The trio has been booked under the IPC for mischief by killing or maiming cattle as well as under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act as they were carrying more animals in a truck than permitted by rules.
However, Ashu claimed that they had valid papers and the buffaloes were not being transported under "inhumane" conditions.
"It was a big truck, one that is meant for carrying 13-14 buffaloes. There were 13 buffaloes in the truck and we had taken all the precautions in transporting them," he said.
The trio was arrested and released on bail yesterday.
One of the alleged attackers, who claimed to be a member of the PFA, was today arrested by the police.
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