Acting on a wrong tip-off, Bajrang Dal activists on Monday beat up two South Africans, accusing them of carrying beef, near Bhajipani village in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh. The activists also damaged the vehicle in which the foreigners were travelling to Nagpur and snatched their mobile phones and wallets.

According to reports, the foreigners — Gordon (44) and Jacob (52), both working with Western Coalfields Limited — were carrying broiler chicken and pork when a group of around 15 Bajrang Dal activists stopped them. The activists accused them of carrying beef and beat them up.

Chhindwara Superintendent of Police R K Sihore told The Indian Express that a case of dacoity has been registered against the Bajrang Dal activists. Sihore also said that four of the activists have already been arrested and the others would be taken into custody soon.

The victims were on their way to Nagpur — the headquarters of WCL — since one of them was to leave for South Africa after catching an evening flight to Delhi.

Both were attached to the Tansi Project.

The two were allowed to leave for Nagpur after a thorough medical examination. A senior police officer said that the food samples found were examined at a veterinary clinic and they turned out to be pork and chicken.

“If they had any such information, they should have alerted the police rather than taking the law into their own hands,” Chhindwara Superintendent of Police R K Sihore said, worried about the fallout of the incident.

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