India Hindus: Modi urges action against cow vigilantes

Hindus, who comprise 80% of India's 1.2bn population, consider cows holy

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has criticised vigilantes who portray themselves as protectors of cows an animal considered sacred by Hindus.

Mr Modi, a Hindu nationalist, said such people made him "angry", and any such attacks must be investigated.
He had been criticised for saying nothing about a public flogging last month of low-caste men by vigilantes.


The self-styled cow defenders accused the four men from the Dalit caste of harming cattle. The victims insisted they were taking a cow's carcass for skinning, as was their tradition.

Also in July, two Muslim women were beaten up by vigilantes over accusations that they had been carrying beef.