A 28-year-old Muslim man from Haryana was shot dead in India’s Rajasthan after being accused of cow smuggling, his family has said.
Aamir, a resident of Palla village in Haryana, died late on Thursday night in the Bhiwadi area of Alwar district.
The incident occurred near Sare Kala village under the jurisdiction of Chopanki police station.
His family has filed a named First Information Report (FIR) accusing members of the Hindu nationalist group Bajrang Dal of killing him.
According to relatives, Aamir had travelled from Haryana to neighbouring Rajasthan when he was stopped by a group of men they identified as Bajrang Dal activists.
“They accused him of cow smuggling and opened fire,” a relative alleged. “He was killed in cold blood.”
Aamir’s maternal uncle, Yahya Khan, said he worked as a driver, was married and had a two-year-old daughter.
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“He had come to pick up a vehicle and was standing by the roadside with a friend when a cattle-laden pickup passed by,” Khan said.
“Some people mistook him for a cow smuggler. They rammed their vehicle into him and fired five to six rounds. A bullet hit him near his eye.”
The family alleged that 15 to 20 people arrived in three vehicles and fled after the attack.
They have demanded strict action against those named in the complaint.
Police confirmed that an altercation took place but said the exact cause of death has not yet been established.
Bhiwadi Deputy Superintendent of Police Kailash Choudhary said stone pelting occurred between two groups near Sare Kala village.
“It would be premature to conclude that he died of gunshot injuries. The cause of death will be known after the post-mortem examination,” he said.
Police claimed that Aamir was allegedly among those travelling in the pickup vehicle and that stones were found inside it.
“He was injured during the clash and later succumbed to his injuries,” the officer said, adding that the matter is under investigation.
Officials said a pickup vehicle was found near the deceased and five cattle were recovered from it.
The vehicle and animals have been seized as part of the investigation.
Superintendent of Police Prashant Kiran also visited the spot along with officers from multiple police stations. A medical board has been formed to conduct the autopsy.
Police have begun questioning individuals named in the FIR. No arrests had been officially confirmed at the time of publication.
The incident has led to tension in parts of Bhiwadi, a town near the Haryana border. Following the incident, relatives and villagers gathered at the police station and staged a protest demanding action.
Additional police personnel have been deployed and patrols intensified in what authorities described as sensitive areas.
“We are closely monitoring the situation. People should not spread rumours,” a district official said.
Authorities stressed that action would be taken strictly on the basis of evidence.
“If anyone is found responsible, appropriate legal action will be taken,” a police officer added.
Cow vigilante violence
Cow slaughter is banned in several Indian states, including Rajasthan and Haryana, where the cow is regarded as sacred by many Hindus.
Over the past decade, self-styled cow protection groups have been linked to multiple violent incidents, with several cases involving Muslim cattle traders.
In 2017, Pehlu Khan was killed in Alwar district in a case that drew national outrage. In 2018, Rakbar Khan was lynched in the same district.
In February 2023, two Muslim men from Nuh in Haryana — Junaid and Nasir — were found dead after their vehicle was allegedly set on fire in Rajasthan. Hindu activist Monu Manesar was later arrested in connection with the case, which remains under judicial process.
Civil rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about attacks carried out in the name of cow protection, warning that such incidents risk deepening communal tensions in India.
In Aamir’s case, police said the investigation is ongoing and the post-mortem report is awaited. Officials described the situation in Bhiwadi as tense but under control.
