Dalit attacked by cow vigilantes in Ahmedabad: beaten with knives and sticks, admitted to hospital

Attack on a person from Dalit community, case registered against cow protectors under BNS and SC/ST Act.

Published on: 27 Aug 2025, 1:18 pm

Ahmedabad: Mahendra Parmar, a 58-year-old Dalit skinner from Rohitwas village in Adalaj, was attacked by four alleged ‘cow protectors’ on Sunday when Parmar was skinning a dead cow. Allegedly, the attackers stabbed him with knives and beat him with sticks and pipes.

Mahendra Parmar told in the FIR lodged in Adalaj police station that he lives with his family in Rohitwas village and has official permission from the village panchayat for disposal of dead animals. He said that around 2 pm on Sunday, he received a call from Naresh Parmar that a cow was lying dead near Khodiyar village. Parmar reached the spot and started skinning the cow. Meanwhile, Naresh left from there for some work.

According to the FIR, around 3 pm, four youths arrived and asked Parmar why he was killing a live cow. Parmar explained to them that he belonged to the Scheduled Caste tanner community and that it was his traditional occupation. He clarified that he only picks up dead animals and has a panchayat permit.

According to the statement recorded in the complaint, one of these youths, identified as Sachin Suthar, hurled caste-slurs at Parmar and stabbed him below his right shoulder. The other three assailants attacked him with sticks and pipes.

Mahendra Parmar told the police, “I fell on the ground and started screaming for help.” Vishnu Solanki, who was passing by, intervened and saved him. Parmar was later taken to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital, where his wounds were stitched.

Based on Parmar’s complaint, the police have registered a case against the four accused under sections like grievous hurt and criminal intimidation of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.