Pune: Four Booked After Viral Video Shows Truck Driver Assaulted, Forced to Eat Cow Dung

Khed Shivapur, 9th March 2026: Police have registered a case against four individuals after a disturbing video surfaced on social media allegedly showing a truck driver being assaulted and forced to eat cow dung by a group of self-proclaimed “cow protectors” in the Khed Shivapur area of Pune district.

According to officials from Ambegaon Police Station, the incident took place on March 6 when the driver was transporting buffaloes through Khed Shivapur. The accused, claiming to be “gau rakshaks,” allegedly intercepted the vehicle and attacked the driver.

Assault and Alleged Humiliation

Police said the group allegedly beat the driver and subjected him to verbal abuse during the confrontation. The viral video that later surfaced on social media allegedly shows the attackers using religion-based slurs while assaulting the driver. In a particularly humiliating act, the victim was allegedly forced to consume cow dung while the incident was being filmed.

Initial Case Against Driver:
Investigators said that after intercepting the truck, the self-proclaimed vigilantes brought the driver to the police station on March 6, claiming that the animals were being transported illegally. Following verification, police registered a case against the driver under the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for allegedly improperly transporting buffaloes.

Based on the driver’s initial complaint, police at first registered only a non-cognisable offence against the alleged vigilantes for assault.

Viral Video Leads to FIR:
The case took a serious turn on Sunday after police came across a viral video circulating online. The footage allegedly showed the accused abusing the driver over his religion, assaulting him, and forcing him to eat cow dung — details that were not included in the driver’s earlier complaint.

Following the emergence of the video, police registered a First Information Report under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Charges Invoked
According to police records, the accused have been booked under the following sections:
Section 196 – Promoting enmity between different groups
Section 299 – Deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings
Section 352 – Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace
Section 115(2) – Voluntarily causing hurt
Section 3(5) – Acts done with common intention

Officials said the FIR was formally registered on March 8 at around 6:36 pm.

Police confirmed that efforts are currently underway to identify and arrest the individuals involved in the assault. The incident has triggered widespread outrage on social media, with many users demanding strict legal action against those responsible for the alleged vigilante attack.