Mandsaur: was the attack on Muslim women a plot to stoke communal riots?

Illegal trade in meat is fairly widespread in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam and Mandsaur. Every day, 4-5 quintals of meat is illegally transported in these regions. Alleged meat smugglers are arrested regularly, but most are freed within days after payment of fine.

The recent attack on two Muslim women by cow protection vigilantes in Mandsaur for allegedly carrying beef has again linked meat smuggling with the contentious issue of cow slaughter. The attack led to a furore, resonating from the Madhya Pradesh assembly to the Parliament.

The possibility of a conspiracy to vitiate the communal atmosphere of MP cannot be denied in this case. The Mandsaur-Ratlam region is known to be communally sensitive. The state government had recently issued an alert to the collectors and police officials of all districts prone to communal violence, including these districts. It had shared inputs with local administrations about possible attempts to foment communal trouble and asked them to prepare for any contingency.

Also Read: MP government on backfoot on 'beef' assault on 2 Muslim women

According to official data, MP saw 41 cases of communal violence last year, in which 167 people were injured. Six months ago, the government issued a directive to at least 12 districts, including Mandsaur and Ratlam, to improve "communal atmosphere".

On Tuesday, the train from Ratlam to Chittor halted at Mandsaur railway station at about 10.30 am. Salma Mewati and Shamim Hussain, both from Khanpura, alighted, carrying some meat. The vigilantes were waiting. They surrounded the two women as soon as they came out. The commotion started with sloganeering but soon turned into violence against Salma and Shamim.

The women kept shouting that they were innocent. Soon, the police reached the spot and seized 30 kg meat from the women. According to the local SHO, MP Singh Parihar, the court has sent both of them to jail. Four cases of illegal meat smuggling are already pending against Salma, while Shamim is an accused in three such cases.