Protest in Mathura over death of cow vigilante in road accident; police denies link of smugglers

People at Kosi Kalan in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura city blocked the national highway, protesting against the death of an illegal cow in a road accident on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Protesters, mostly cow vigilantes and their supporters, clashed with police, claiming that the accident was a deliberate act by cattle smugglers. As the incident created tension, heavy police teams were dispatched to the region.

Earlier in the day, self-proclaimed godman cow vigilante Chandrashekhar, also known as ‘Farsa Wale Baba’ in Braj district, stopped a container truck on the highway. He also had a student with him. The vehicle, bearing a Nagaland registration number, was stopped on suspicion of carrying a cow. Later, upon examination, the police found that the truck was carrying only soap, phenyl and shampoo.

No ‘cattle smuggling’ connection: Police

Police categorically denied that the accident was linked to cattle smuggling. “Chandrashekhar aka Farsa Baba stopped a vehicle in the Kosi police station area between 03.00 and 04.00 last night on suspicion. He died tragically after being hit by a truck coming from behind due to dense fog. It was determined that the vehicle stopped by the deceased had grocery items in it and the truck coming from behind was full of wires. This is a traffic accident, it has nothing to do with cow smuggling. The situation was taken under control by using necessary force against these people. An official statement from Mathura police said More legal action is being taken, the statement said. Law and order situations are being created.

The Congress said the death was unfortunate. But he added that cow vigilantes taking the law into their own hands showed the failure of the state machinery. Congress national secretary Shahnawaz Alam said, “First of all, the death of the individual is an unfortunate incident. But who gave the slain person the authority to stop a vehicle on suspicion? This means that he tried to seek and usurp the authority of the law enforcement agencies. Also, the fact that his supporters damaged vehicles and attacked cops highlights the collapse of the state machinery in Uttar Pradesh with the mafia taking the law into its own hands.”