Residents and activists from Galnimb village of Rahuri taluka in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar staged a protest at Kolhar Chowk on Friday (October 31, 2025), demanding a speedy and impartial investigation into the death of a 17-year-old boy belonging to the Dhangar community.
The teenager was found dead on October 28 after allegedly being assaulted by cow vigilantes a day earlier.
According to the victim’s cousin, the Class 12 student had purchased a cow from Chincholi Phata village, about 6-7 km from his home. He was transporting the animal in a vehicle when he was intercepted near Kolhar by four men claiming to be ‘gau rakshaks’.
“These men routinely harass people and extort money ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹5 lakh,” the cousin said. The assailants reportedly called the teenager a cow smuggler, chased and beat him with iron rods and sticks, abused him, and live-streamed the assault on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
In the afternoon, the accused brought the cow and the vehicle to the police station and filed a complaint against the boy, the Loni police said. By evening, the video had gone viral on social media.
