A police vehicle is being damaged during a protest by locals after a cow vigilante was allegedly run over by suspected cattle smugglers on the Mathura national highway on March 21, 2026. Photo: Special Arrangement
People blocked the national highway in Kosi Kalan in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, protesting over the death of a cow vigilante in a road accident on Saturday (March 21, 2026). The protesters, mostly cow vigilantes and supporters, clashed with police, alleging that the accident was a deliberate act carried out by cattle smugglers. As the incident triggered tension, heavy police force was deployed in the area.
In the early hours of the day, Chandrashekhar, the cow vigilante who is also a self-styled godman known as ‘Farsa Wale Baba’ in the Braj region, halted a container truck on the highway. He was accompanied by a disciple. The vehicle, which had a registration number from Nagaland, was stopped over suspicion of transporting cows. Later, upon examination, the police found that the truck only carried soap, phenyl, and shampoo.
No ‘cattle smuggling’ link: Police
The police categorically denied that the accident was linked to cattle smuggling. “Chandrashekhar alias Farsa Baba stopped a vehicle on suspicion in the Kosi police station area between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. last night. He was tragically killed when struck by a truck coming from behind due to dense fog. The vehicle which the deceased had stopped was found to contain grocery items and the truck coming from behind was loaded with wires. This is a road accident – it has nothing to do with cow smuggling. The situation has been brought under control by using necessary force against those creating law and order situations. Further legal action is being taken,” an official statement from the Mathura police reads.
The Congress said the death was unfortunate. However, it added that cow vigilantes taking law into their hand showed the failure of state machinery. “Firstly, the death of the individual is unfortunate. But who gave the authority to the killed individual to stop a vehicle on suspicion? It means he was attempting to search and usurp the power of law enforcement agencies. Moreover, his supporters damaging vehicles and attacking policemen highlights the breakdown of state machinery in Uttar Pradesh, with mob taking law into their own hand,” said Shahnawaz Alam, national secretary, the Congress.
Published – March 21, 2026 12:50 pm IST
