Chandra Shekhar, a cow vigilante also known as Farsa Baba, passed away in a road accident on the Agra-Delhi highway near Mathura at approximately 4 a.m. on Saturday. His death sparked a large protest and caused a traffic jam on the highway, which was brought under control by the afternoon.
His backers claimed that Baba was hit by cow traffickers as he attempted to halt a truck purportedly transporting cattle near the Kotvan border region.
The Mathura district authorities reported that Baba and a follower halted a container truck on the highway. The truck, which had a Nagaland registration, was stopped on the suspicion that it was transporting cows. However, after inspection, it was discovered to be carrying soap, phenyl, and shampoo.
In the early morning, under heavy fog, a truck registered in Rajasthan and carrying wire arrived at the location, according to district magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh. The limited visibility caused the truck to collide with the group, resulting in the immediate death of Farsa Baba. The truck driver was injured, and the vehicle suffered damage, the DM further stated.
After the incident, rumors circulated that Farsa Baba had been intentionally murdered, leading to a road blockade and stone-throwing. Authorities quickly arrived at the location, took steps to stabilize the situation, and promised the public that a thorough investigation would be carried out, as stated by the Mathura administration.
Videos shared on social media show that demonstrators damaged police and government vehicles as officials tried to clear the roadway. The authorities reported that six police officers and an equal number of protesters were injured.
Shailesh Pandey, the DIG of the Agra range, stated that the situation is now under control. He assured that a fair investigation will be conducted and those accountable, including those who caused the disturbance, will face consequences. The police have now reopened the highway to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.
By coincidence, President Droupadi Murmu was in Mathura on the same day, about 25 kilometers away from where the accident and protests occurred. She was attending the Govardhan pilgrimage, participating in the aarti of Giriraj Ji Maharaj and completing the Govardhan Parikrama as part of her three-day trip to Uttar Pradesh.
