Bhopal man assaulted by cow vigilantes recalls ordeal before succumbing to injuries

In the early hours of 5 June, two men from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, were violently attacked by a group of self-styled cow vigilantes, an incident that has since sparked widespread concern over rising vigilante violence in the region. The victim, Junaid Qureshi, who later died from his injuries, recounted the harrowing ordeal before his passing.

A report published by The Indian Express said, Junaid and his companion Arman were returning from Dhanaura village near Vidisha, having loaded their vehicle with cattle, when at approximately 2.30 am their path was abruptly blocked by another vehicle. A group of around 10 to 15 men approached, forcibly stopping them and launching a brutal assault. Disturbingly, the attackers recorded the entire episode on video.

“They were making a video of us… while they beat us,” Junaid told police at Sanchi in Vidisha district. “After this, they sat in our vehicle and made us sit in the car, continuing to beat us, and brought me and Arman to Sanchi police station.” Following his statement, an FIR was registered on 6 June.

Despite receiving medical care, Junaid succumbed to his injuries on 17 June, leaving his family devastated. The videos of the assault have since circulated widely on social media, including clips uploaded by the main accused, Dhruv Chaturvedi. These recordings are now central to the police investigation, with sub-divisional police officer Pratibha Sharma confirming that the footage is being examined.

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Chaturvedi is reported to have led the group that intercepted Junaid and Arman near a school on Vidisha-Kaudi Road at Mehgaon village. According to Junaid’s police statement, some assailants were armed with sticks and verbally abused them with foul language targeting their families.

“They said we are taking away cows and that both of us should be killed today,” he said. The attackers then proceeded to beat them with sticks.

Junaid described the extent of the injuries sustained: Arman suffered wounds to his head, legs, stomach, and entire body, while Junaid himself was injured on both hands, legs, back, and torso. After the assault, the attackers took the two men to Sanchi police station, from where they were admitted to Sanchi hospital.

One of the videos captures Chaturvedi expressing frustration with the police, accusing them of shirking responsibility. “We risked our lives and chased down the vehicle… Police took no responsibility in this case and argued over jurisdiction. Police should be supporting us, but are not doing so,” he said, adding, “There is no police patrolling… We check the routes every alternate day.”

Following the incident, police arrested Chaturvedi along with Gagan Dubey and Rampal Rajput on 6 June. Authorities revealed that the accused have multiple criminal cases against them, with Chaturvedi facing over a dozen charges related to public disorder.

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Police sources stated that Chaturvedi began vigilante activities in 2022, targeting alleged cattle smugglers. He reportedly developed a network of informants and has openly described his operations, which often occur late at night without police coordination. His social media presence includes calls for organised action and inflammatory rhetoric.

He has criticised political figures such as BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for celebrating Eid with the Muslim community and protested against filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. A senior police officer noted that Chaturvedi has also demanded that only Hindus be permitted to set up shops during Ram Leela mela festivities.

The police further described Chaturvedi as maintaining a makeshift gym on the terrace of his home, where he “routinely works out with a mace and other traditional gym equipment”.

Junaid’s family mourned his death, emphasising his humble lifestyle and limited travels. His younger brother, Zaid, said, “On 4 June, around midnight, he left to unload tomatoes, saying he would return in four to five hours. But he never came back.” His cousin, Anwar Qureshi, added, “Junaid did welding, porter work in the vegetable market, and construction work. He sometimes accompanied trucks to unload goods, but never went far.”

This tragic incident has once again brought to light the growing menace of vigilante violence in Madhya Pradesh, raising urgent questions about law enforcement’s role and the protection of vulnerable communities.