In Odisha’s Balasore, 35-year-old Muslim man Sk Makandar Mahammad lynched by cow vigilantes on Jan 14, 2026; forced to chant slogans in viral video, three arrested amid outrage.
Muslim Man Beaten to Death After Forced Religious Slogans in Cow Vigilante Attack:
A 35-year-old Muslim man, Sk Makandar Mahammad, was allegedly lynched by a mob in Odisha’s Balasore district on January 14, 2026, after his cattle-laden pickup van was intercepted on suspicion of smuggling. Video footage circulating online shows assailants forcing him to chant “Jai Shri Ram” and “Gau Mata Ki Jai” while beating him with pipes and weapons, leading to his death hours later in hospital. This incident, the latest in a string of vigilante attacks, exposes rising communal tensions in India, where cow protection laws often fuel violence against minorities, eroding trust in law enforcement and sparking demands for accountability.
Timeline of Terror: From Van Stop to Fatal Beating and Police Response in Balasore:
The attack unfolded around 5 a.m. on January 14, 2026, when Mahammad’s pickup van, carrying cattle, was stopped near Jayadeva Kasba in Balasore Sadar police limits. The driver attempted to flee, causing the van to overturn. While the driver escaped into the darkness, Mahammad was captured by the mob.
Purported video evidence, shared widely on social media, captures the assailants assaulting Mahammad with plastic pipes and forcing him to chant “Jai Shri Ram” and “Gau Mata Ki Jai.” Despite his pleas and compliance, the beating continued, leaving him severely injured with bleeding from the mouth and face.
Police arrived shortly after, rescuing Mahammad and rushing him to Balasore District Headquarters Hospital. He succumbed to his injuries later that afternoon. The driver, also injured, survived.
Initially, police filed an FIR under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Orissa Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections, focusing on the van’s alleged rash driving and cattle transport. A cow was seized and sent to a goshala, and the van was impounded.
By evening, Mahammad’s brother, Sk Jitendar Mahammad, lodged a second complaint, alleging murder by a mob. This led to a new case under BNS Section 103(2), which addresses lynching by groups motivated by prejudice based on religion or other factors.
On January 16, three suspects were arrested, and police detained others for questioning. Authorities identified eight more individuals present at the scene. The investigation continues, with efforts to verify the video’s authenticity.
India's Cow Vigilante Surge: A Pattern of Violence Rooted in Politics and Prejudice:
Cow vigilantism has surged in India since 2014, coinciding with stricter cow protection laws under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the center and in states like Odisha, where the BJP took power in June 2024. Odisha’s Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1960, bans slaughter and transport without permits, often exploited by self-styled vigilantes.
This incident follows a pattern: In December 2025, a Muslim laborer from Bengal was beaten to death in Sambalpur over similar suspicions. In October 2025, two Muslim youths in Cuttack’s Khuntuni were assaulted and paraded with saffron flags. Another attack in Ganjam saw a Murshidabad man targeted for refusing slogans.
Nationally, rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented over 100 lynching cases since 2015, mostly against Muslims and Dalits accused of cattle-related offenses. A 2023 report by IndiaSpend noted 84% of victims since 2010 were Muslims.
In Odisha, critics link the rise to political shifts. The state’s milk farmers’ association has highlighted increased vigilante activity post-BJP rule. Balasore, a coastal district with mixed Hindu-Muslim populations, has seen sporadic communal clashes, amplified by economic disparities and religious polarization.
Such violence undermines constitutional protections, fosters fear among minorities, and strains social fabric. It also challenges India’s image as a secular democracy, drawing international scrutiny amid reports of Islamophobia.