Mob assaults buffalo traders in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh; two cases lodged

Two Muslim traders and a van driver were physically assaulted by a mob, allegedly workers of Hindutva outfits, in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district for transporting buffaloes, with videos of the incident surfacing online. The police have registered two cases in the matter, including one against the injured for animal cruelty, officers said on Wednesday (October 28, 2026).

According to the police, the incident took place in Hardua village under Hindoriya police station range on the evening of October 26, when Abid Qureshi and Hasan Qureshi, both local buffalo traders, were transporting some buffaloes in a transport vehicle and stopped by a group of people.

Damoh Superintendent of Police (SP) Anand Kaladagi told The Hindu that the incident took place on suspicion of buffalo theft.

He said that both the traders, the driver, and the van owner were booked for animal cruelty, while a separate FIR was lodged against unknown persons based on the video clips and a complaint from the victims under relevant provisions like assault.

“We have identified some people through the video clips and are working to arrest them. The traders were booked because the animals were being transported in poor condition in a small van,” the SP said.

The purported clips show a mob tying the two traders and dragging them through a field and assaulting them with sticks.

Two of the victims were treated in Damoh, while one was referred to Jabalpur for further treatment. Mr. Kaladagi said that all three were stable now.

Mr. Abid, who spoke to reporters in the hospital, said that they had shown the purchase receipt to the people who had stopped the van to prove that they were not transporting stolen buffaloes.

“They did not listen to us, so we started running around to save ourselves, but they caught us. They beat us up badly, even though we kept saying that the buffaloes were not stolen. We got some relief when the police arrived,” he said in a semi-conscious state, with injury marks visible on his face and other parts of body.

Meanwhile, members of the Muslim community also staged a demonstration at the SP office and demanded strict action against the accused.

crime / law enforcement / Madhya Pradesh