Haryana lynching: Vegetarianism 'turns into' tool for asserting dominance

By Vipin Tripathi 

On September 2, 2024 at 9 PM, I returned from my visit to the slums of Badhra in the Charkhi Dadri district, Haryana, where I had the opportunity to meet the communities affected by the tragic incidents involving Sabir, a 26-year-old who was lynched on August 27, and his neighbor Asiruddin, 35, who sustained serious injuries in the attack. Details of this incident were reported by media.

My journey began early this morning, as I departed from home at 6:45 AM. After navigating the metro and a bus ride, I reached Charkhi Dadri at approximately 11:30 AM. Deepak Lamba, a civil society activist and colleague of Yogendra Yadav, had arranged for his nephew Siddhartha to pick me up from the bus station and take me to his office. 

There, I met Deepak, as well as several Bharat Jodo Yatris from Maharashtra and local residents, before we traveled to Badhra. In Badhra, I encountered two small clusters of jhuggis (shanties). The first cluster, located on the town's outskirts, housed about ten Muslim families, primarily ragpickers, including Asiruddin, who originally hailed from Barpeta, Assam. The second cluster, situated within the town, was home to Sabir and his family, who ran a kabadkhana (a scrap shop). 

Both clusters appeared eerily deserted, with only a few Assam families living near the first cluster. Conversations with residents revealed the following key insights: 

1. On August 27, around 11 AM, a mob of 40 to 50 cow vigilantes descended on the Assamese cluster, accusing them of cooking beef. They forcefully entered the kitchens, assaulted one man, and after that, they targeted Asiruddin. Later that day, around 3 PM, they approached Sabir’s cluster and, under dubious pretenses, led him away to another location where he was viciously beaten. His body was later discovered elsewhere. A survivor from the Assam cluster mentioned that the day prior, someone among them had bought buffalo meat from a local shop. 

2. Two days post-incident, Sabir’s family relocated to West Bengal. He leaves behind his wife, two children, and a brother-in-law. As of now, no compensation has been announced by the state government, although some arrests have taken place. Asiruddin currently remains hospitalized in Delhi. 

3. Living adjacent to Sabir were two Hindu lohar (ironsmith) families. However, they expressed limited interaction with Sabir. Affluent neighbors also claimed ignorance regarding both him and the recent events. Local shopkeepers showed little concern about the tragic incident. 

The brutality displayed by the assailants is deeply troubling, as is the apparent indifference among local residents. The obsession with dietary practices masks a troubling lack of empathy and humanity. 

When vegetarianism transforms into a tool for asserting dominance, it degenerates into a means of humiliation and unchecked exploitation. Such behavior is a moral transgression. 

I sincerely hope that the villagers will awaken to the shocking brutality and insensitivity demonstrated by the state. Additionally, my daughter Rakhi has created two brief videos documenting my visit: the first before my trip to Dadri, which can be viewed here, and the second following my return, available here.