Mob Violence and Arson in Betul Village Following Viral Cow Abuse Video
Tension erupted in Damjipura village of Madhya Pradesh's Betul district on Sunday after a video allegedly showing a 50-year-old man committing an unnatural act with a cow went viral on social media platforms. The disturbing clip triggered widespread outrage among local residents and members of right-wing organizations, leading to violent protests and significant property damage throughout the village.
Violent Protests and Property Damage
As the video circulated rapidly across various social media platforms on Sunday morning, angry residents and activists gathered in large numbers to protest the alleged incident. The mob resorted to violent means of expressing their anger, setting fire to several tin-shed shops and damaging numerous others. Local markets were forced to shut down completely as the situation escalated, with multiple vehicles also being vandalized during the unrest. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties were reported despite the widespread violence and destruction of property.
Police Response and Arrest
Police authorities acted swiftly after the video surfaced online and managed to apprehend the accused individual. Betul Superintendent of Police Veerendra Jain confirmed that the situation has been brought under control with substantial police deployment. "The situation is under control now. Close to 200 police personnel have been deployed as a precautionary measure. Additional force from nearby Khandwa district was also mobilized to ensure peace and order," Jain stated in his official statement.
Investigation Details and Police Appeal
According to police investigations, the alleged incident reportedly occurred at approximately 11:30 pm on Saturday night. A local youth captured the video footage but failed to inform police authorities or anyone else about the incident immediately. Instead, the individual shared the video on social media platforms the following morning, which led to its rapid viral spread and subsequent public outrage. Police have issued a strong appeal for maintaining calm and have warned against spreading rumors or uploading provocative content online that could further inflame tensions in the sensitive situation.
The incident has highlighted the volatile nature of social media content and its potential to trigger immediate public reactions in sensitive matters involving religious sentiments and animal welfare concerns. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely while investigating the circumstances surrounding both the alleged incident and the subsequent violent protests that disrupted normal life in the village.
