Indian police arrest Muslim students over beef rumours

AFP, NEW DELHI: Police in India arrested four Muslim students on charges of breaching the peace after rumours the men were cooking beef sparked protests, an officer said Thursday. Hundreds of fellow students and right-wing Hindu activists had gathered outside a university residence in the northern state of Rajasthan on Monday and were accusing the four of cooking beef—a taboo in parts of the Hindu-majority nation. Many Indian states including Rajasthan have banned the consumption of cow meat, which has become even more contentious since the murder last year of a Muslim man wrongly suspected of eating beef. Local police officer Labhu Ram said a “tense” crowd had gathered and were demanding the men be arrested, although he denied media reports they had been physically attacked.

 

Indian police arrest Muslim students over beef rumours

AFP, NEW DELHI: Police in India arrested four Muslim students on charges of breaching the peace after rumours the men were cooking beef sparked protests, an officer said Thursday. Hundreds of fellow students and right-wing Hindu activists had gathered outside a university residence in the northern state of Rajasthan on Monday and were accusing the four of cooking beefa taboo in parts of the Hindu-majority nation. Many Indian states including Rajasthan have banned the consumption of cow meat, which has become even more contentious since the murder last year of a Muslim man wrongly suspected of eating beef. Local police officer Labhu Ram said a tense crowd had gathered and were demanding the men be arrested, although he denied media reports they had been physically attacked.