Bengaluru, India — Local authorities in Bengaluru arrested Syed Nasru, originally from Bihar, following an attack on three cows that escalated tensions within the city. The assault occurred earlier this month in the Cottonpet area, leaving the community on edge. Nasru, who has no previous criminal record and was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time, is now facing a judicial remand of 14 days.
Nasru, who relocated to Bengaluru a few years prior and held various odd jobs including a position at a tailoring unit, was identified with the aid of CCTV footage and local residents. A police officer shared that Nasru is known among neighborhood residents and admitted to the crime upon his arrest.
The complaint that led to Nasru’s capture was filed by Karna Gopalkrishna, a local milk farmer, who discovered his cows brutally injured early in the morning. According to Gopalkrishna, he was alerted to the situation by a friend and found one cow with its udder completely severed and others with partial cuts and a sharp weapon injury. The aggrieved farmer promptly sought medical attention for his cattle at the Chamarajpet Veterinary Hospital and reported the incident to the police.
In response to the incident, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has instructed the Bengaluru police commissioner to thoroughly investigate the matter. He emphasized the need for calm and discouraged premature protests from local Hindu organizations, urging that they allow the inquiry to proceed without political interference.
Meanwhile, B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, the Minister for Housing, Waqf, and Minority Welfare and the representative for Chamarajpet, visited the injured cows and assured expedited action against the perpetrator. Khan also expressed his intention to compensate Gopalkrishna by purchasing new cows for him.
The attack drew sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and various Hindutva groups, who labeled the act as “jihadi terror.” R. Ashoka, the leader of the opposition in the Karnataka assembly, expressed severe concern over the incident, citing it as evidence of a jihadi mindset. In light of the event’s timing just before the festival of Makar Sankranti, he even warned of observing the festival as ‘Black Makar Sankranti’ should the culprits remain at large.
Further political tension arose as Karnataka BJP chief B.Y. Vijayendra slammed the Congress government’s handling of cattle welfare and linked their policies to appeasing specific voter groups, potentially endangering traditional Hindu practices.
This incident has not only highlighted the religious and political sensitivities surrounding cattle in India but has also sparked a wider debate on animal welfare and communal harmony. The investigation is ongoing, with local authorities committed to maintaining peace and providing justice for the affected livestock and farmer.