Dalit brothers stripped, beaten in India by cow vigilantes

Cow vigilantes in southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh stripped and thrashed two members from Dalit community for skinning a dead cow, police said on Wednesday.

The victims (two brothers) were beaten to pulp on Monday at Amalapuram of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh.

"Two Dalit brothers Mokati Elisa and his brother Lazar were tied to a coconut tree, stripped and then beaten to pulp by a huge crowd for allegedly skinning a dead cow," a police officer said.

"The two brothers were hired by a vegetable vendor, owner of the cow to skin the animal that had died of electrocution while grazing."

The duo was attacked by over 100 cow vigilantes, accusing them of having killed the cow after stealing it.

Both the brothers were admitted to a local hospital and the condition of one of them is stated to be critical, an official said.

The attack came two days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for stern action against cow vigilantes.

"I feel very angry at this cow protection business. Some people indulge in anti-social activities in night and turn cow protectionists during the day," Modi said on Saturday after breaking his silence on the growing attacks at the hands of cow vigilantes.

"All states should take stern action against these people."

Last month, four Dalit men believed to be tannery workers were assaulted by the cow vigilantes while they were trying to skin a dead cow in Una town of Gujarat state.

The attack triggered massive protests after video of these men went viral, showing them stripped, tied to a vehicle and being flogged with iron rods while being paraded.

Dalits were previously known as untouchables in India and fall at the bottom of India's caste hierarchy. Endit