Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Bellingcat and @AltNewsVideos found evidence of violent assaults by members of five Indian “animal welfare” groups that describe themselves as protectors of cows, an animal considered sacred in Hinduism, the dominant religion in India. But in the dark of the night, their work takes on a more violent edge. Multiple photos and videos show members of self-described cow protection groups chasing, shooting at and beating up truck drivers they claim are “smuggling” cows for slaughter. Our investigation sheds light on how such groups are part of an informal network that carries out this mob violence. The vigilantes attacking truck drivers tend to be closely aligned with hardline Hindu nationalist organisations, and a majority of their victims are Muslims.
The videos featured were from public accounts on Instagram or Facebook.
Read the full investigation here: bellingcat.com/news/2025/07/15/cow-vigilantes-india/?utm_source=YouTube
#cowvigilantes #india #investigations
00:00 - 01:03 Introduction to Cow Vigilantes
01:04 - 01:27 Claims of Police involvement
01:28 - 01:55 Welfare claims
01:56 - 02:59 Historical cases
03:00 - 04:45 ABGS
04:46 - 06:55 Sonu and GRD
06:56 - 08:32 LFN
08:33 - 09:16 Gau Seva Mission
09:17 - 10:07 Gau Vansh Sewa Dham
10:08 - 10:42 The cycle of violence
Bellingcat and @AltNewsVideos found evidence of violent assaults by members of five Indian “animal welfare” groups that describe themselves as protectors of cows, an animal considered sacred in Hinduism, the dominant religion in India. But in the dark of the night, their work takes on a more violent edge. Multiple photos and videos show members of self-described cow protection groups chasing, shooting at and beating up truck drivers they claim are “smuggling” cows for slaughter. Our investigation sheds light on how such groups are part of an informal network that carries out this mob violence. The vigilantes attacking truck drivers tend to be closely aligned with hardline Hindu nationalist organisations, and a majority of their victims are Muslims.
The videos featured were from public accounts on Instagram or Facebook.
Read the full investigation here: bellingcat.com/news/2025/07/15/cow-vigilantes-india/?utm_source=YouTube
#cowvigilantes #india #investigations
00:00 - 01:03 Introduction to Cow Vigilantes
01:04 - 01:27 Claims of Police involvement
01:28 - 01:55 Welfare claims
01:56 - 02:59 Historical cases
03:00 - 04:45 ABGS
04:46 - 06:55 Sonu and GRD
06:56 - 08:32 LFN
08:33 - 09:16 Gau Seva Mission
09:17 - 10:07 Gau Vansh Sewa Dham
10:08 - 10:42 The cycle of violence
