On June 12, Tabassum Khan, an additional district and sessions judge in Madhya Pradesh, sentenced 14 men to life imprisonment for the lynching of a 50‑year‑old farmer in 2022. The victims were accused of smuggling cattle – a crime that religious groups label as cattle theft, triggering the group of self‑named "gau rakshaks" or cow protectors.
The assault concluded with the farmer’s death, yet the men survived and recounted how they were freed, chased, and beaten by the mob. Judge Khan’s ruling highlighted the act as a clear case of mob lynching, not a justified “cattle‑protection” effort.
Soon after, the verdict fueled an online hate campaign that targeted Khan’s Muslim identity. Thousands of videos containing communal slurs, rape threats and death threats circulated on social media. The content singled her out as a Muslim judge, claiming her religion was the reason for the verdict.
The backlash extended beyond cyberspace. Families of the convicted men protested outside court premises, and right‑wing influencers offered support. In Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, protests included effigies of Khan burned and demands for the release of the "cow protectors".
Key judicial bodies, including the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Supreme Court Advocates‑on‑Record Association, condemned the threats and urged swift action. Police officials confirmed that cyber‑crime cells were monitoring the situation, and two individuals were arrested on charges of incitement.
The incident highlights a deeper clash: while cow protection is legally protected in many Indian states, the use of violence under the guise of religious duty has triggered widespread social media harassment and violence. It also underlines the vulnerability of judicial officers facing hate‑based attacks that threaten the democratic framework.
