From Mob Lynchings To Govt Bans - A Timeline Of Key Incidents Of Beef Politics In IndiaPhoto: | Representational Image From Mob Lynchings To Govt Bans - A Timeline Of Key Incidents Of Beef Politics In IndiaPhoto: | Representational Image 
Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced a complete ban on beef consumption in hotels, restaurants and public places across the state. Assam's decision comes as food politics continues to wreak havoc across India.
The state government announced it will amend its current provision which bans serving or consumption of beef within five kilometres of any temples and will extend it to the entire state.
Be it communal tensions or court decisions, politics over food, especially with regards to beef and cow slaughter continues to raise its ugly head in India every now and then. Here is a look at some of the notable incidents.
Beef Politics In India: A Brief TimelineMob lynching, especially by cow vigilantes, was not an unknown concept in India. However, since 2014 and the rise of Bharatiya Janata Party, a significant rise in such communal tensions has been registered.
September 2015 - Lynching Of Mohammad Akhlaq
In 2015, Mohammad Akhlaq was lynched by a mob on suspicion of cow slaughter in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh. The mob, incited by rumours, proceeded to attack Akhlaq and his family. It was later found that the meat in Akhlaq’s fridge was indeed mutton, just as the family told the mob.
Akhlaq, 52, died in the attack and his 22-year-old was seriously injured by the mob. The lynching was followed by political reactions from all sides. The ruling BJP distanced itself from the incident but questioned the legality of cow slaughter, indirectly justifying the mob's actions.
2015 - BJP Govt In Chhattisgarh Removes Eggs From Midday Meals
In 2015, when the BJP came to power in Chhattisgarh, it removed eggs from midday meals in schools. As per the state government, by adding eggs to meals, the religious sentiments of people are hurt.
This rule was removed in 2019 under the Congress government which added eggs to the midday meals citing malnourishment in children.
March 2016 - Jharkhand Mob Lynching
In 2016, three Muslim cattle traders were lynched by a mob. Preliminary investigation revealed that the cattle traders were selling eight oxen. On March 18, the traders were caught by a group of villagers, beaten to death and then hung from a tree.
As per police, the incident took place three months after communal clashes over beef eating. Police further added that the aim of the killings was to loot the traders for money and cattle.
July 2016 - 2 Women Accused Of Carrying Beef, Thrashed By Mob
Two women were assaulted, slapped and kicked by a mob at a railway station in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh. The women had been accused of carrying beef and were booked under the local anti-cow slaughter act. However, it was later proved that the women were carrying meat of a buffalo - buff, and not beef.
April 2017 - Lynching Of Pehlu Khan
Pehlu Khan, a dairy farmer from Haryana was attacked by a group of cow vigilantes while transporting cattle in Alwar, Rajasthan. The mob accused Khan and others travelling with him of smuggling the cattle and transporting them for slaughter.
Khan and six others were attacked by the mob of 200 despite showing civic documents which stated that the cows were being transported for milk production.
May 2017 - BJP Government Makes Attempt For Complete Ban
In May 2017, the Central government, led by BJP, attempted a complete ban on slaughter of cattle including – cows, buffaloes, bullocks, calves and camels.
However, this decision was stayed by the Supreme Court of India. The top court stated that the ban would interfere with livelihood of people involved in leather, tanning and meat production industries.
June 2017 - Lynching Of Alimuddin Ansari
Alimuddin Ansari from Jharkhand was beaten to death by a mob in Ramgarh. Ansari had been accused of carrying beef and was attacked by a group of self-proclaimed cow vigilantes.
As per police, the murder was premeditated as the group had Ansari's whereabouts and travel route days prior to his lynching.
November 2017 - Death Of Ummar Khan
Ummar Khan was returning from Dausa after purchasing cattle from a fair when he was surrounded and killed by a group of cow vigilantes in Govindgarh.
The mob shot Ummar and later dumped his body on railway tracks to cover up the murder.
July 2018 - Lynching Of Rakbar Khan
31-year-old Rakbar Khan was lynched by a mob on suspicion of cattle smuggling in Alwar, Rajasthan. He was beaten to death by a mob comprising of self-proclaimed cow vigilantes.
In this case, a police officer was also suspended for delaying medical treatment for Rakbar. The officer was accused of arranging shelter for the cows as opposed to taking Rakbar to the hospital for treatment.
July 2020- Lukman Khan Attacked By Cow Vigilantes
In July 2020, on the eve of Eid-al-Adha, Lukman Khan was chased and beaten by a group of cow vigilantes on suspicion of cow smuggling and carrying beef.
The incident took place in Gurugram, Haryana, where the BJP government has a stronghold. Lukman was attacked by a group pf self-proclaimed cow vigilantes as he was transporting buffalo meat to Gurugram's Sadar Bazar.
Speaking to ThePrint, Khan shared that he was forced to chant "Jai Shree Ram" atleast 50 times. He also alleged that the mob took him to a cremation ground in Sohna Chowk and attempted to burn him alive.
February 2023 - Lynching Of Nasir And Junaid In Haryana's Bhiwani
Two Muslim men were abducted and allegedly burned alive in Haryana's Bhiwani in February 2023 by a group of cow vigilantes.
The charred bodies of 28-year-old Nasir Hussain and 35-year-old Junaid Khan were discovered inside an SUV. Monu Manesar was charged as the main accused in the case. Manesar, whose real name is Mohit Yadav, is a functionary of the right-wing group Bajrang Dal.
July 2024 – Kanwar Yatra Controversy
In July 2024, the state governments of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand ordered all eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of shop owners and staff.
The directive, was later on shut down by the Supreme Court, which ruled that the directives not only violate the right to privacy of owners but will also incite communal tensions
August 2024 - Lynching Of Sabir Malik
Sabir Malik, a migrant worker from West Bengal was lynched by a group of cow vigilantes on suspicion of eating beef in Haryana.
"Suspecting that the victim had eaten beef, the accused – Abhishek, Mohit, Ravinder, Kamaljit, and Sahil – called him at a shop on the pretext of selling empty plastic bottles. There, they beat him,” an officer told PTI.
December 2024 - Assam Announces Complete Ban On Beef In Public Places
The Assam Government has announced a complete ban on the consumption and serving of beef in hotelsheart games, restaurants and public places. This decision comes as an attempt to strengthen the Cattle Preservation Act in the state.