Skip to main content

Fact-finding team highlights need for justice after Bhilwara lynching incident

By A Representative 
On September 16, 2025, Sheru Susadia, a resident of Multanpura village in Mandsaur, was returning home after purchasing cattle from the Lambia Rayla animal fair in Bhilwara along with a companion. Unaware that this journey would become his last, Sheru was reportedly attacked in transit by a group of around fifteen to sixteen people who suspected him of cow smuggling.
The Lambia Kalan fair has long been a hub for cultural events, entertainment, trade, and social gatherings. Traditionally, it includes cattle trading alongside poetry gatherings, bicycle races, and horse riding events. Farmers and traders from far and wide participate, and the administration makes special arrangements for fodder and water for the animals over the multi-day event.
According to reports, Sheru had stopped for food during his return journey. Around 3 a.m., he noticed a vehicle following him. The suspected vigilantes forced his vehicle to the side of the road and attacked him with sticks and rods, reportedly also taking his mobile phone and cash. Sheru was admitted to a hospital in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, and later referred to Jaipur due to the severity of his injuries, where he tragically passed away. Photographs from the hospital revealed the extent of the assault.
Bhilwara police have registered a case and arrested five individuals, while several others remain at large. A separate case related to alleged cow smuggling has also been filed, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed. The family has reportedly been assured financial assistance of INR 500,000, though they remain deeply distressed.
Sheru, approximately 32 years old, was the sole breadwinner for his family after his father passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. His family relies on a small plot of farmland and a modest house made of mud and dung. He leaves behind a widow, two young children aged around 8–10 months and three years, elderly mother, a 15-year-old brother, and two sisters, all dependent on him.
Following the incident, a fact-finding team led by social activist Kripal Singh Mandloi, along with members including activists Shailendra Thakur and Yash Lohar, visited the village to meet the family, neighbors, and relatives. The team called for strict action against the perpetrators, fast-track justice in line with Supreme Court directives issued in 2018, protection for the family, compensation of INR 5 million, and a government job for a family member. They also urged authorities to implement measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.

Comments

TRENDING

Neville Cardus: The man who turned cricket writing into poetry

By Harsh Thakor*  Neville Cardus was one of the most remarkable literary figures of the twentieth century. A prolific English writer and critic, he achieved distinction in two vastly different fields: cricket and classical music. Entirely self-taught, Cardus rose from humble beginnings to become both the cricket correspondent and chief music critic of The Manchester Guardian . His achievements in these contrasting disciplines earned him widespread acclaim and established him as one of the foremost critics of his generation. In February 2025, the cricketing and literary world marked the fiftieth anniversary of his death, which occurred in February 1975.

​Ideological shifts and structural realities within India's left-wing insurgency

​By Harsh Thakor*  The Maoist insurgency in India is arguably at its weakest point since the formation of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004. Years of sustained counterinsurgency operations, leadership losses, shrinking territorial influence, declining recruitment, and growing technological advantages enjoyed by the state have significantly eroded the movement's operational capabilities. 

The Dalit body on screen: Stereotypes, sacrifice, and subjugation in Hindi films

By Dr. Prem Singh*  Despite centuries of reformist efforts, from Gandhi and Ambedkar to contemporary activists, the caste system remains deeply embedded in the Indian psyche. One of the primary reasons for this persistence is the religious sanction provided by Brahminical scriptures, which have shaped not only social structures but also cultural and artistic expressions.