A 25-year-old man who was allegedly assaulted by cow vigilantes on September 13 died at a hospital in Ahmedabad on Saturday, reported PTI. According to the police, Mohammad Ayyub Mev was beaten up by unidentified people on the SG Highway on Tuesday night after his car had an accident.

Inspector PB Rana of Anandnagar police station told PTI that a mob chased Mev after they found a calf and a bullock in his car. "To save himself from people's wrath, he started running. Some persons caught him and thrashed him. We had lodged a case of attempt to murder against the mob. Now as he has died of injuries, we will file FIR for murder. No one is arrested yet," said the inspector.

Mev's associate Sameer Sheikh, who was also in the car, was saved by a policeman on duty, reported NDTV. According to reports, three cow vigilantes had filed a complaint against the two for illegally transporting the animals. Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Shivanand Jha told The Times of India, "We are analysing more video footage and will take appropriate action once investigation is over."

Ayyub's brother Imran, however, alleged that he was assaulted by gau rakshaks on the suspicion that he was transporting cows for slaughter. He said, "Those who killed my brother were indeed gau rakshaks. My brother was not carrying any cow. Out of some grudge, these gau rakshaks mercilessly thrashed him.”

Gujarat witnessed a huge controversy in July after four Dalit youths were publicly flogged by cow vigilantes in Una. The incident triggered nationwide protest.