CAUGHT ON VIDEO: 24 PEOPLE TIED WITH ROPE, THRASHED FOR THIS SHOCKING REASON!

In yet another case of hate crime, a group of 24 men who claimed to be transporting cattle to an animal fair in Maharashtra were thrashed, by a gang of cow vigilantes, who also forced them to chant "gau mata ki ja" in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa district.

According to NDTV reports, the shocking video was shot from a mobile-phone that featured, 15 of those men who can be seen tied together with rope and forced to kneel by the side of the road, in full view of the public, while being made to chant "gau mata ki jai". The 24 men hail from Khandwa, Sehore, Dewas and Harda districts, and include six Muslims.

In the video, a man wearing a white shirt is seen using a mobile phone to take a close-up video or photograph of each man's face, while at least two others stand guard over the tied-up men. The men were stopped and attacked by a group of vigilantes, who numbered 100 according to a report by news agency PTI, from Savalikeda village.

The vigilantes alleged that the men were transporting 20-odd cattle for slaughter. They were overpowered, tied up and paraded through the streets on their way to Khalwa police station, which is approximately three kilometres from the village, NDTV further reported.

Meanwhile, Shivdayal Singh, the district police superintendent said that the men claimed to own the cattle being transported but could not prove that claim. "With none of the 24 men possessing valid documents to prove their claims and also transporting the cattle in vehicles in consonance with relevant guidelines, they were arrested and booked under provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Govansh Vadh Pratishedh Adhiniyam and provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act," he said. No action has yet been taken against the vigilantes; police say they are probing allegations of cruelty.

#WATCH Several people tied with a rope and made to chant "Gau mata ki jai" in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh on accusation of carrying cattle in their vehicles. (7.7.19) (Note - Abusive language) pic.twitter.com/5pbRZ4hNsR

— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2019