Two Muslim men were allegedly lynched by a mob in Assam’s Sonitpur district near the Arunachal Pradesh border in the early hours of Friday, while another person was seriously injured in the attack, police said.
According to the police, the incident took place in the remote Bhalukpong area after a group allegedly entered a village around 3:30 am and attempted to steal three cows. Villagers reportedly noticed the alleged cattle theft, chased the group, and later assaulted them, leading to the deaths of two men on the spot.
Sonitpur Senior Superintendent of Police Barun Purkayastha told The Indian Express that one injured person survived the assault and is currently undergoing treatment. Police also said that the cows, along with the vehicle allegedly used by the group, had been recovered following the incident.
Authorities have registered two separate cases in connection with the matter — one related to the alleged cattle theft and another concerning the mob lynching.
Police Say Investigation Hampered by Remote Location
“The victims belong to a minority community from Morigaon district,” the police officer confirmed, adding that no arrests had been made so far in the lynching case despite the deaths of the two men.
Police officials said identifying those involved in the assault has become difficult because the incident occurred in a remote forest region where there is no CCTV coverage or surveillance infrastructure available. According to officials, a large number of villagers allegedly participated in the attack.
Authorities also stated that investigators are trying to identify those involved through local inquiries and witness accounts due to the absence of electronic surveillance evidence from the area.
Assam Government’s Remarks on Cattle Smuggling Draw Attention
The killings come amid heightened political focus in Assam over allegations of cattle smuggling and beef transportation. On Thursday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state government was maintaining “zero tolerance towards cattle smuggling,” claiming that more than 850 alleged cattle thieves had been arrested since January this year.
In a social media post ahead of Eid celebrations, Sarma further stated that authorities across the state were remaining “extremely vigilant” before the festival. He also claimed that over 2,980 kg of beef had been seized in different operations conducted by Assam Police.
The remarks came at a time when concerns over cow vigilantism and communal targeting continue to be raised by activists and opposition parties across the country.
Rights Groups Raise Concerns Over Cow Vigilantism
Civil rights activists and opposition leaders have argued that incidents linked to cattle trade, transport, or beef consumption increasingly take place in an atmosphere shaped by Hindutva-driven cow protection politics rather than solely law enforcement concerns.
Rights groups have repeatedly alleged that Muslims are disproportionately targeted in such cases, while also questioning what they describe as weak police action and delayed accountability in incidents of mob violence.
The latest killings in Sonitpur have once again intensified concerns around mob lynching, communal violence, and the lack of swift arrests in attacks allegedly carried out by large groups.
