After Muslim man is killed by gau rakshaks in Rajasthan, BJP's Naqvi says 'no such incident took place'

After a Muslim man was killed by gau rakshaksin Rajasthan's Alwar, the BJP's Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said in Parliament today that: "No such incident took place."

"Jis tarah ki ghatna pesh ki ja rahi hai, aisi koi ghatna zameen par nahi hui hai," ANI reported him as saying in the Rajya Sabha.

He added that the state government had refuted the incident, and that "we do not condone lawlessness".

But the blowback was swift, with leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam NabhiAzad saying, "Even the New York Times knows and the minister doesn't know."

Pehlu Khan had died on Monday after he and four others were attacked by gau rakshaks(cow protectionists, India's Hindu community considers the cow sacred) in Alwar.

All five had to be hospitalised, but Khan -- who was 55 -- died from his injuries.

New reports said a sixth man with them -- their driver Arjun -- was allowed to go free.

News reports said the men had bought the cows they were transporting -- in an open pick-up -- from a cattle fair.

They had shown their attackers papers saying so.

Khan's companions said the cows were milch cattle -- that were to be reared for their milk, and were not meant for slaughter.

Which is why they were transporting them openly, and had not bothered to hide them.

(WION)