Vigilante group targets cattle traders in Mandi, community seeks protection from district authorities
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MANDI: An incident involving a vigilante group targeting cattle traders has raised alarm in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district. On October 3, at around 8 pm, two cattle traders were assaulted near the Ratti police station in Balh, further intensifying fears over the safety of individuals involved in livestock trading across the region.
The victims, Jai Singh (33) from Mandir Tanda and Sandeep Kumar (27) from Dhabban, were on their way to transport livestock when a group of local residents intercepted their vehicle. Claiming to protect cattle, the group launched an attack on the traders, accusing them of smuggling cows. The injured traders were rushed to a nearby hospital, and their families are now urging the authorities to take action against the assailants.
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This violent confrontation has heightened concerns among the Labana trader community, which has a long history of involvement in the cattle trade. Following the incident, a delegation of traders met with Mandi District Commissioner Apoorv Devgan on Monday to present a formal petition outlining their grievances. The delegation demanded increased protection for traders who are being unfairly branded as cow smugglers by certain vigilante groups.
In their petition, the traders highlighted that they operate within legal frameworks, acquiring cattle from registered dairies for legitimate trade purposes. However, their activities are increasingly being disrupted by self-styled cow protectors who not only harass them but in some cases, demand extortion money to let them pass.
The delegation stressed that such incidents not only endanger their lives but also threaten their livelihoods, which have been sustained for generations through the trade of cows, buffaloes and goats.
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“We respect the laws and are always willing to cooperate with authorities in case of any suspicion. But what is happening now is lawlessness. We are being subjected to violence for simply doing our jobs,” said one of the traders during the meeting with the District Commissioner.
The traders have called on the administration to ensure that in case of any suspicion, such matters should be handled through proper legal channels involving the police, rather than vigilante-style violence. They urged that action be taken against the individuals involved in the attack and requested a special directive to protect traders from future harassment.
District Commissioner Apoorva Devgan assured the delegation that the matter would be taken seriously and promised to look into the grievances raised. “We will investigate the incident and ensure that lawful practices are maintained. No one has the right to take the law into their own hands,” she stated.
