In a tragic and horrifying incident that unfolded in the Nashik district of Maharashtra, a group of approximately 15 individuals viciously confronted two men who were suspected of transporting beef in a hatchback from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. The assailants attacked the men with iron rods and sticks along Sinnar Ghoti Road in Igatpuri taluka. Regrettably, Afaan Abdul Majid Ansari, a 32-year-old resident of Kurla in Mumbai, lost his life in the brutal assault, while the other victim, Nasir Hussain Shaikh, sustained injuries but is currently in stable condition. The local community has been left in a state of shock by this horrifying incident.
Upon receiving information about the attack, the police swiftly arrived at the scene and discovered both victims still alive. They were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, but unfortunately, Ansari succumbed to his injuries. Following Shaikh’s complaint, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) and subsequently arrested eleven individuals in connection with the incident.
The victims had been traveling in a Maruti Swift car, carrying approximately 450kg of meat from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. The mob intercepted them on Sinnar-Ghoti Road, a mere 25km away from the location where another mob had assaulted two cattle transporters on June 8, resulting in the death of one of them. Previously, six individuals had been arrested in relation to that case.
To determine the nature of the meat found in the car, it has been sent for forensic testing. The Nashik Rural deputy SP, Sunil Bhamre, stated that the analysis aims to ascertain whether it was buffalo meat or beef.
In their investigation, the police meticulously examined CCTV footage and tracked the suspects by analyzing their mobile phone locations. Shaikh informed the authorities that when they reached a toll gate in Sinnar, someone noticed the meat in the car, which then led to the subsequent attack. Nashik Rural SP, Shahaji Umap, expressed that the investigation is focused on identifying the individuals at Sinnar who could have alerted the attackers.
