Three buffalo traders thrashed by animal welfare activists

While transporting buffaloes to Gazipur Mandi from Pataudi in Haryana, three men were intercepted and brutally assaulted by a group of men claiming to be from the charitable trust organisation 'People for Animals' near Kalkaji on Saturday night.

The police arrested the three injured traders on charges of cruelty to animals after they were released from the hospital.

However, the cops are still looking for the attackers and have asked the suspects to join the probe.

Around midnight on April 22, a PCR in Delhi received a call from animal welfare activist Gaurav Gupta, a member of the organisation 'People for Animals', about a truck that was allegedly transporting animals illegally.

On reaching the spot, cops discovered that the three men had been brutally beaten up members of the organisation.

One of them had severe bleeding under his eye. Following this, the victims were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre.

The cattle traders have been identified as Ashu and Kamil, while the driver of the truck has been identified as Rizwan.

"We have arrested them under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals act as they lacked necessary papers. They were later released on bail," said a senior police officer.

All three are residents of Pataudi and are in their twenties.

The three were on their way to sell the buffaloes at the Ghazipur Mandi, when they were waylaid on the road opposite Kalkaji Mandir.

One of the traders sustained a deep cut under his eye but the rest survived minor injuries, said cops.

"The three men have received simple injuries on face and lips," said DCP South East, Romil Baniya.

Both the truck and the 14 buffaloes are currently under custody in Tis Hazari.

Police stated that they could not ascertain if cow vigilantes were involved in the incident, but added that they were probing the role of animal welfare activists from the People for Animals group.

"My son Kamil has been badly beaten up by the mob of 15-16 men. Close to 50 men stood watching but none intervened. He is complaining of pain in his ribs. His mother could not stop crying when we heard the news of the attack," said Tayyib, Kamil's father.

The cops have registered a case under sections 323, 341/34 of the Indian Penal Code against those involved in the attack and have asked them to join the investigation.

Meanwhile, police have also been informed that Gaurav Gupta's membership had ended with the PFA.

The NGO later in the day disabled its website, wherein Gupta and his brother Saurabh were mentioned as members of its Delhi unit.