Pune Traders Allege Cow Vigilante Harassment, AIJQAC Seeks Police Commissioner’s Intervention

Pune, 19th March 2026: The All India Jamiatul Quresh Action Committee (AIJQAC) has written to the Pune City Police Commissioner seeking urgent intervention against what it described as harassment of Qureshi community traders by cow vigilante groups operating in the city.

In a letter signed by AIJQAC’s West Maharashtra president Sadiq Isak Qureshi and several other office-bearers, the organisation alleged that traders transporting buffalo meat and bones from the Pune Municipal Corporation’s licensed cantonment slaughterhouse are being intercepted by cow vigilante groups. According to the letter, these groups allegedly file FIRs without verifying the traders’ documents.

The organisation further alleged that some vigilantes, claiming to hold government-issued Animal Welfare Committee membership cards, have verbally abused and physically intimidated truck drivers and cleaners. It also claimed that in certain instances workers were humiliated by being forced to consume dung.

The AIJQAC cited specific incidents, including a case registered at Hadapsar Police Station on June 6, 2025, and another at Vanwadi Police Station on November 7, 2025. According to the letter, FIRs were registered against two vehicles in these cases without checking the documents. The organisation also referred to incidents at Khadki and Samarth Police Stations where buffalo bones being transported to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar were seized and the cattle were reportedly sent to gaushalas, resulting in financial losses to traders.

The letter stated that on June 6, 2024, representatives of the organisation had presented the matter before the Police Commissioner and were assured that legal protection would be provided. “We were assured that we would receive legal help and that no injustice would be done to us,” the letter stated.

The AIJQAC said continued targeting of traders by such groups could inflame tensions between communities and potentially disturb law and order in the city.

The organisation has demanded that police verify vehicle documents and RTO permits before registering any FIR. It has also sought verification of the Animal Welfare Committee credentials of vigilante activists against official government records.

The letter was signed by 12 office-bearers, including the Pune city president, executive president, advisors and committee members of the AIJQAC.

Pune City Police had not issued any response at the time of publication.