Agra: A cow vigilante, Chandra Shekhar, popularly known as Farsa Baba, died in a road accident on the Agra–Delhi highway near Mathura at around 4 am on Saturday, triggering a massive protest and a traffic jam on the highway by angry supporters, which was brought under control by the afternoon.
Baba's supporters claim that he was run over by cow smugglers when he tried to stop a truck allegedly carrying cattle near the Kotvan border area.
The Mathura district administration said that Baba, along with a disciple, had stopped a container truck on the highway. The vehicle, bearing a Nagaland registration number, was intercepted on suspicion of carrying cows. However, upon inspection, it was found to be transporting soap, phenyl and shampoo. Mathura SSP Shlok Kumar has said the incident may have been accidental.
After the incident, rumours spread that Farsa Baba had been deliberately killed, triggering a road blockade and stone-pelting, which caused damage to cars and trucks.
Officials rushed to the scene, worked to calm the situation, and assured the public that a proper investigation would be conducted, according to the Mathura administration.
