Cow vigilante's death, Eid, violence: Unravelling what happened in Mathura

India Today's reporter, Himanshu Mishra, unfolds the series of events that took place in Mathura on the day of Eid, following the death of a cow vigilante, in this ground report.

In Short

• Farsa Wale Baba died in a road accident, not by cow smugglers
• Rumours of murder sparked stone-pelting and unrest in Mathura
• Dense fog and low visibility caused the fatal collision

Tensions gripped Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura on the day of Eid al-Fitr (March 21), after speculations flared up over the death of a cow vigilante, named Chandrasekhar, popularly known as Farse Wale Baba. Late Friday night, the vigilante, along with his disciples, was inspecting a container truck, which was believed to be involved in cow-smuggling, when another truck ran him over on the Delhi-Agra highway.

The rumour that Farsa Wale Baba was killed by cow-smugglers soon spread in Mathura. The angry disciples started pelting stones at the police. However, it was later found out that Chandrasekhar did not die in the hands of the cow-smugglers–rather, he died in an accident that occurred due to low visibility.

India Today reporter Himanshu Mishra unfolded the series of incidents through his ground report.

THE SERIES OF EVENTS

I am reporting from Mathura, where a tense situation unfolded on the morning of Eid following the reported death of a local cow vigilante, widely known as “Farsa Baba.”

The first information reached me around 10 am on Saturday, claiming that Chandrashekhar alias Farsa Baba had been run over and killed by alleged cattle smugglers. Along with this, reports of heavy stone-pelting and injuries to several police personnel also surfaced.

Given the sensitivity—Eid day, a cow vigilante’s death, and violence—it was clear to me that the situation could escalate quickly. I immediately began calling my police sources in Mathura. However, when my calls initially went unanswered, it raised concerns that the situation might be deteriorating.

Without wasting time, I decided to head towards the spot. On my way, I started gathering more background about Farsa Baba. A few minutes into my journey, I finally received a call back from the Mathura Police. Surprisingly, the officer on the line sounded calm.

He told me that while there had been unrest earlier, the situation was now under control. He clarified that some police personnel had been injured in the stone-pelting, but people had been informed that the incident was not a murder, but a tragic accident.

According to the police, the unrest was triggered by rumours, and some outsiders were involved in the stone-pelting.

By then, the narrative had begun to shift—from a suspected murder by cattle smugglers to a road accident followed by rumour-driven violence.

Around 1:30 pm, I reached the Chhata police outpost located on the Delhi-Agra highway. The scene told its own story—municipal workers were clearing stones scattered across the road and collecting abandoned slippers left behind during the chaos. The police outpost itself bore visible signs of heavy stone-pelting; its signboard had been completely damaged.

By this time, an official statement had been released by the police:

Police stated that during the night between 3:00 and 4:00 am in the Kosi area, Chandrashekhar alias Farsa Baba had stopped a vehicle on suspicion. Due to dense fog, a truck coming from behind collided with him, leading to his death. The container he had stopped was found to be carrying grocery items, while the truck that hit him was loaded with wire. Police clarified that this was a road accident and had no connection to cattle smuggling.

With this clarification, it became evident to me that misinformation had played a major role in triggering unrest on such a sensitive day.

I then proceeded to the actual accident site, nearly 17 kilometres from the police outpost towards Delhi. At the location, I saw Baba’s motorcycle by the roadside, with a broken front number plate. A few meters ahead, clear skid marks and signs of impact were visible on the road. About 50 meters away stood a heavily damaged truck—the front portion completely crushed. Blood stains were still visible, indicating the severity of the collision.

Soon after, I learned that the truck driver had also succumbed to injuries at the hospital.

Police had already confirmed that no cattle were found in either vehicle. The container carried grocery goods and was registered in Nagaland, while the truck involved in the collision, loaded with wire, was from Rajasthan.

Officials I spoke to also pointed out that dense fog on Friday and Saturday night likely contributed to the accident.

From there, I travelled about 15–20 kilometres to reach Baba’s ashram. It took me around 40 minutes. At the ashram, the situation was relatively calm but emotionally charged. A funeral pyre was burning in the courtyard, and Baba’s associates stood around in grief.

I was told that Baba was not alone at the time of the incident. I looked for Hariom, who was reportedly with him on the motorcycle. Hariom, however, was not convinced it was an accident. He alleged that the truck hit them deliberately, hinting at a possible conspiracy. Several others at the ashram echoed similar sentiments.

The ashram housed a large cow shed, where many cows were being cared for. Locals told me that Farsa Baba had dedicated his life to cow protection and was widely respected in the area.

Security at the ashram had been tightened, with police personnel deployed and senior officials monitoring the situation.

Later, District Magistrate Chandra Prakash also arrived at the ashram. He confirmed that the incident occurred near the Haryana border and reiterated that both Baba and the truck driver had died in the accident. He acknowledged Baba’s contribution to cow protection and said his death had caused widespread grief.

The DM also addressed public concerns regarding the future of the cowshed, assuring that the administration would take responsibility for the care and protection of the cattle. He added that demands such as granting martyr status, building a memorial, and forming a cow vigilante task force would be considered as per the rules.

As I conclude my report, what stands out is how quickly rumours can inflame tensions—especially on a sensitive day. While the administration has managed to bring the situation under control, the emotional divide and lingering doubts among locals remain evident.

- Ends