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.

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