A Christian man was murdered by a mob of 25 “cow protectors” in India on 10 April, reported AsiaNews .
The attackers, wielding swords, sickles and iron bars, accused Prakash Lakra of slaughtering an ox.
Cows are regarded as sacred by many in India and minorities who slaughter them for food are often targeted in revenge attacks.
The mob attacked Lakra and three other men also accused of killing the animal on a road in the eastern state of Jharkhand. Lakra died soon after from his injuries.
Later, police registered a complaint against the three survivors for illegal slaughter of cattle.
A local church leader said, “These things happen because the strong powers and the authorities show no willingness to control this violence. To add infamy to this shame, in Jharkhand there is a machine set in motion by the authorities to create division and hatred against Christians."
He said that in 2018 the Chief Minister of Jharkhand published on the front page of newspapers a notice directed specifically against Christian missionaries and against tribal converts, calling them “stupid and ignorant cows”. A law was then passed to prohibit conversions.
