A police vehicle was damaged during a protest by local residents after suspected cattle smugglers allegedly ran over a cow patrol on the Mathura State Highway on March 21, 2026. Photo: Special arrangement
People blocked the state highway at Kosi Kalan in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura, protesting the death of a cow vigilante in a road accident on Saturday (March 21, 2026). The protesters, mostly vigilantes and cow supporters, clashed with the police, claiming the accident was a deliberate act of cattle smugglers. As the incident created tension, heavy police force was deployed in the area.
In the early hours of the morning, Chandrashekhar, a cow vigilante who is also a self-styled godman known as ‘Farsa Wale Baba’ in Braj area, stopped a truck on the highway. He was accompanied by a student. The vehicle, which had a Nagaland registration plate, was stopped on suspicion of transporting cows. Later, during a search, the police found that the truck was carrying only soap, phenyl and shampoo.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: A scuffle broke out between police and locals in Mathura’s Kosi area as people blocked a road to protest the death of a ‘Gau Rakshak’ who was allegedly run over by cattle smugglers. pic.twitter.com/EMXoseyLU5
— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2026
No “cattle smuggling” link: Police
The police categorically denied that the accident was related to cattle smuggling. “Chandrashekhar alias Farsa Baba stopped a suspicious vehicle in Kosi police station area last night between 3:00 am and 4:00 am. He died tragically after being hit by a truck coming from behind due to thick fog. The vehicle stopped by the deceased was found to contain food and the truck coming from behind was loaded with wires on the road – nothing to do. The situation was brought under control by using necessary force against those creating the situation public order, they are taking further legal steps,” says the official statement of the Mathura police.
Congress said the death was accidental. However, it added that the cows taking the law into their hands is an indication of the failure of the state machinery. “First of all, the death of an individual is unfortunate. But who gave the slain individual the authority to stop a vehicle on suspicion? That means he was trying to search and usurp the power of the law enforcement agencies. Moreover, his supporters damaging vehicles and attacking policemen point to the disintegration of the state machinery in Uttar Pradesh where the mob is taking the law into its own hands,” said Alam National Secret, Shahnawaz.
Published – 21 March 2026 12:50 PM IST
