Muslim Man Lynched in Moradabad, India, Over Cow Slaughter Allegations

In India’s Moradabad Majhola area, a 37-year-old Muslim man, Shahideen Qureshi, succumbed to his injuries on Monday after being brutally attacked by a mob over allegations of cow slaughter. Despite public outcry and the registration of two FIRs, no arrests have been made against those responsible for the assault, highlighting a disturbing pattern of mob justice and systemic inaction. 

Shahideen Qureshi

Shahideen Qureshi, a bodybuilder with a passion for fitness, had left his home early that morning for work. “I am a heart patient. I woke up at 2 am to take my medicine, and by 3 am, my husband got ready to head out,” his wife, Rizwana, recounted. Hours later, her attempts to reach him went unanswered. A call from his phone informed her it had been found near Majhola Mandi. The next update came from the police, who notified the family that Qureshi had been hospitalized.

“When we reached the hospital, he was bleeding from his nose, his left eye was swollen, and he was gasping for breath,” said Masooma Jamal, Qureshi’s sister-in-law. Despite their efforts to secure better treatment, he was declared dead upon arrival at a private hospital. 

The house in the Aslatapura area of Moradabad, where Shahidin Qureshi's family resides as tenants

The tragic incident occurred when Qureshi and his friend Mohammad Adnan were allegedly seen slaughtering an ox. Adnan fled the scene, leaving Qureshi at the mercy of the mob. 

Majhola Station House Officer Mohit Chaudhary confirmed two FIRs were registered. “We took suo motu cognisance and registered an FIR against Qureshi and Mohammad Adnan for cow slaughter. Another FIR was filed based on a complaint by Qureshi’s brother under IPC Section 302 (murder) against unidentified persons,” he explained. 

20 out of 28 states in India have laws prohibiting the cow slaughter 

However, no arrests have been made in the murder case. Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Kumar Ran Vijay Singh stated, “We have not been able to arrest anybody in connection with the killing of Qureshi so far.” Singh also downplayed the communal angle, arguing that this was not a case of lynching. 

“Technical definition of lynching is if someone is killed over caste, creed, religion, but here the mob didn’t know his [Shahedeen’s] religion. So how can it be called lynching?” Singh stated.

However, a disturbing video of the attack surfaced online on Tuesday, primarily shared by Hindutva vigilantes. In the video, the attackers can be heard chanting Jai Shri Ram slogans.

“Who gave them the right to take a human life over the death of an animal?” Rizwana asked. “Even if he had done something wrong, they should have called the police. Why was he beaten so badly that he died?”

Qureshi’s nephew, Waris Jamal, highlighted the hardships faced by the family. “Shahideen earned about ?15,000 a month transporting goods. After he fell ill six months ago, his teenage sons had to work at a tailor shop to support the family,” he said.

The aftermath of Qureshi’s death has left his family in shambles. Rizwana, now a widow with three young sons aged 13, 11, and 9, voiced her despair: “Who will look after me? My children are so young. My in-laws are dead. Where will I go?”

The family buried Qureshi’s body on Tuesday morning after an overnight postmortem. The police presence in Muslim-dominated areas has been increased to maintain peace, but the community demands justice.

The case is not an isolated incident but part of a larger pattern of vigilante violence justified under the guise of protecting cows.  As of now, 20 out of 28 states in India have laws prohibiting the slaughter of cows, with varying degrees of penalties and exceptions. States like Maharashtra and Gujarat impose stringent penalties, including life imprisonment for cow slaughter.

Critics argue that these laws are frequently used as tools to marginalize and harass Muslims and other minorities who are traditionally involved in the beef trade or depend on cattle slaughter for their livelihoods. Mob violence, often under the guise of enforcing these laws, has disproportionately targeted Muslims, leading to injuries, deaths, and a climate of fear.

India is home to approximately 200 million Muslims, making them the largest minority group in a predominantly Hindu nation. Despite their significant population, Muslims have historically faced barriers in various aspects of life, including employment, education, and political representation. For instance, as of 2019, Muslims held only about 5% of parliamentary seats, reflecting their underrepresentation in political power.

The rights of Muslims in India have faced significant encroachment under the current government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This situation is characterized by systemic discrimination, violence, and legal changes that disproportionately affect the Muslim community.

The current political climate in India has led to a systematic erosion of rights for Muslims through discriminatory laws and practices. The combination of legal disenfranchisement, socioeconomic inequality, and increased violence against Muslims raises serious concerns about the future of religious freedom and minority rights in India under the Modi government.