In a shocking incident that has drawn widespread condemnation, a 35-year-old man from Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, was brutally beaten to death in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district. The tragic event, which unfolded on the night of September 15-16, saw the victim targeted by a group of self-proclaimed cow vigilantes, who wrongly suspected him of involvement in cow smuggling.
The victim, identified as Aasif Babu Multani, along with his cousin Mohsin, residents of Multanpur in Mandsaur, were making their way home in the early hours of September 16. They had just completed purchasing cattle, including oxen and buffaloes, for their farming and dairy enterprises from a market in Lambia Raila, Bhilwara, when they were ambushed.
Aasif’s brother, Manju Pemla, lodged an official complaint at the Banera police station on September 17. He alleged that not only did the attackers beat his brother, but they also robbed him of ₹36,000. Disturbingly, Pemla claimed that the assailants then used Aasif’s phone to call their family, demanding an additional ₹50,000 for his release, a demand made even as Aasif lay gravely injured.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Pemla recounted the harrowing sequence of events. He explained that the family was first alerted to Aasif’s critical condition when they received a call from the Bhilwara police on September 17, informing them that his brother had been admitted to a local hospital.
Upon arrival, they discovered Aasif had already been referred to a hospital in Jaipur due to the severity of his injuries. Tragically, Aasif succumbed to his wounds on September 20. ‘He had injuries all over his body,’ Pemla stated, emphasizing the brutality of the assault.
Heartbreakingly, Pemla believes his brother’s only ‘mistake’ was his religious identity and the act of transporting cattle. He clarified that the vehicle contained only oxen and buffaloes, not cows, which are often at the center of such vigilante attacks. ‘Mohsin had called us in the morning about the incident, but we never imagined my brother was beaten so severely,’ he added, reflecting the family’s shock and grief.
Medical documents from Bhilwara’s Mahatma Gandhi Hospital confirm that Aasif was transferred to Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Medical College Hospital for urgent neurosurgery, necessitated by critical head injuries sustained during the attack.
Bhilwara Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Singh confirmed that five individuals have been apprehended in connection with the case. A formal complaint has been registered, and legal proceedings are underway.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to meticulously examine all available evidence, including CCTV footage and digital records. SP Singh stated that the SIT’s mandate extends to exploring every potential motive, from personal disputes to acts of extortion or road rage, ensuring a comprehensive inquiry into the incident.
While a post-mortem examination has been conducted, the exact cause of death remains inconclusive. Authorities are awaiting detailed forensic reports, which are crucial for shedding light on the full circumstances of Aasif’s demise.
Mohsin, Aasif’s cousin and an eyewitness to the horror, recounted that their pickup van was pursued by several vehicles after they had stopped for dinner on their way back to Mandsaur.
‘A car aggressively overtook us, forcing our van off the road,’ Mohsin described. ‘As soon as we stopped, approximately 14-15 men swarmed us, dragged us out, and began assaulting us without a single word of explanation.’ He further alleged that the attackers confiscated their receipts for the cattle, presumably to destroy evidence of legitimate purchase.
During the brutal assault, Mohsin recalled the mob repeatedly yelling ‘gau taskar’ (cow smuggler). Amidst the chaos, he managed to break free from his assailants and fled into the nearby woods, desperately seeking help.
While Mohsin ran for his life, Aasif continued to endure the relentless beating. ‘I kept running while they kept hitting Aasif. Since I couldn’t find any help in the dark of night, I hid in the forest,’ he painfully recounted.
Aasif leaves behind a young family: his wife, a 2.5-year-old daughter, and an eight-month-old son, who now face a future without their husband and father.
Manju Pemla expressed frustration that, despite naming specific individuals in the First Information Report (FIR), police have yet to apprehend all the identified suspects.
Mohsin recognized some of the attackers from social media videos, noting their history of harassing cattle transporters. ‘These men constantly harass people who transport cattle, yet the police have not caught all of them,’ Pemla stated. The family has since met with the Bhilwara SP to press their demands for swift and comprehensive justice.