Radical activists patrol the roads, trying to stop trucks that they believe may be transporting cows, including for subsequent slaughter. Such actions often lead to accidents, resulting in vehicles overturning.
According to Indian media reports, such incidents are frequently accompanied by violence.
In January 2026 alone, violence related to "cow vigilantism" claimed the lives of at least 85 people.
In most cases, the victims are truck drivers and members of religious minorities.
Human rights activists have repeatedly raised concerns that such actions go beyond the law and resemble lynching, calling on authorities for stricter measures to combat extrajudicial actions.
