Daijiworld Media Network – Ganjam

Ganjam, Jun 24: In a shocking incident that has drawn nationwide condemnation, two Dalit men in Odisha's Ganjam district were publicly humiliated and physically assaulted by a mob that falsely accused them of cattle smuggling. The gruesome act took place on Sunday at Jahada in Kharigumma village under Dharakote police station limits and has since sparked political outrage after disturbing videos of the assault surfaced online.

The victims, Babula Nayak (54) and Bulu Nayak (42), both residents of Singipur, were transporting two cows and a calf in an auto-rickshaw from Hariour to their village. According to the victims, the animals were intended as part of a traditional gift for Babula’s daughter’s wedding. However, before they could reach their destination, a group of self-styled 'cow protectors' intercepted them at Kharigumma and accused them of smuggling cattle.

As per police reports, the mob demanded Rs 30,000 from the duo. Upon their refusal, the situation escalated. The men were physically assaulted, forcibly taken to a salon where their heads were partially tonsured, and then subjected to extreme humiliation — they were made to crawl on their knees for over a kilometre and forced to consume grass and drain water in full public view.

Speaking to the media, Ganjam Superintendent of Police Suvendu Kumar Patra confirmed that a case has been registered, and six individuals have been detained in connection with the incident. “Preliminary investigations suggest that the act was more about extortion than any genuine concern for animal welfare,” Patra said.

The victims managed to escape the clutches of the mob and lodged an FIR later in the evening on the same day. Police have assured that a thorough probe is underway and strict legal action will be taken against all those involved in the incident.

The videos, now circulating widely on social media, have drawn condemnation from civil society, rights activists and political leaders, many of whom have demanded swift justice and stringent punishment under the SC/ST Atrocities Act.

The incident serves as a grim reminder of the recurring vigilante violence in the name of cow protection and raises serious questions about the safety and dignity of marginalised communities in the country.