A 45-year-old meat shop owner in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh district was brutally assaulted by a group of men on Saturday, December 21, 2025, on suspicion of carrying cow meat. The police have confirmed the arrest of two individuals, while the victim's family has alleged a pre-planned conspiracy behind the attack.
Details of the Assault in Harduaganj
The victim, Shareef Qureshi, a resident of Gudiyai area, was transporting approximately 20-25 kilograms of buffalo meat on his motorcycle to his shop in the Atrauli area. According to police and family accounts, he was intercepted on Hanumangarhi Road by a group of assailants who arrived on motorcycles and in a car.
Rajiv Dwivedi, the Circle Officer of Aligarh, stated that Qureshi had legally purchased the meat from a licensed supplier named Mohsin, who is associated with a food processing unit, and was in possession of valid purchase documents. However, the assailants tore up these documents before launching their attack, accusing him of carrying beef, which is banned in Uttar Pradesh.
The mob proceeded to beat Qureshi, damaging his motorcycle in the process. He sustained injuries to his face, head, and hand. The situation was brought under control after police personnel arrived at the spot, rescued Qureshi from the crowd, and rushed him to a hospital for treatment.
Police Action and Family's Allegations
Based on a complaint filed by Shareef Qureshi, an FIR has been registered at the Harduaganj police station against seven identified individuals and twelve unidentified suspects. The charges include rioting, wrongful restraint, voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation, and mischief.
Circle Officer Rajiv Dwivedi confirmed the arrest of two accused, identified as Sheelu Rajput and Anuj. Efforts are ongoing to trace the remaining suspects. A sample of the seized meat has been sent to a laboratory for examination to determine its origin.
Speaking to the media, Qureshi's younger brother, Nadeem, and brother-in-law, Mohammad Arif, presented a different narrative. They claimed the attack was premeditated. The family suspects the accused had been aware of Qureshi's movements, had followed him for several days, and were waiting for an opportunity to attack him.
"They tore his valid documents and started beating him while falsely claiming it was cow meat. They abused him, kicked and punched him, and also damaged his bike," Nadeem said. He emphasized that his brother has been legally selling buffalo meat for over two decades and had no prior enmity with the accused.
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigation
A video of the assault circulated widely on social media, which helped in identifying some of the accused. The police have stated that the accused are also residents of the Harduaganj area and are investigating whether there was any motive beyond the immediate allegation.
A police officer involved noted that there was no current information linking the accused to any formal organization. They also claimed that Qureshi's injuries were not serious, a point likely contested by the victim's family given his hospitalization.
The incident has once again highlighted the tensions surrounding cattle-related laws in the state. The police maintain that the law is taking its course, with arrests made and a scientific examination of the meat underway to establish the facts conclusively.
