News, Andhra Pradesh: Two Dalit brothers were allegedly tied to a coconut tree, stripped and thrashed for skinning a dead cow in Andhra Pradesh, in a redux of the outrageous attack last month in Gujarat that has pivoted protests and a huge political controversy for the central government.

The incident took place at Janakipeta in Amalapuram town of the district in Andhra Pradesh. After the cow died following electrocution, its owner, a farmer, engaged the two Dalits, Mokati Elisa and his brother Lazar to skin a cow that had died of electrocution, the police said. While they were on the job, the brothers were attacked by around 100 “gau-rakshaks” or cow vigilantes who arrived at the spot accusing them of stealing and killing the animal.

The two brothers were admitted to a hospital in Amalapuram for treatment and Elisha’s condition was said to be serious. Two of their main attackers have been identified as Gangadhar and Ramana.

“We have registered a case under SCs/STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against some persons, who are yet to be identified. We are investigating the case and gathering clues about the suspects,” a police official said over phone from Amalapuram.

The incident has taken place when the flogging of a Dalit family at Una in Gujarat last month created a countrywide uproar over cow vigilantism.

After days of opposition fire in parliament, the prime minister broke his silence on the attacks at his first-ever town hall last week in Delhi, in which he said

“most of these Gau Rakshaks are anti-social elements who commit crimes through the night and masquerade as cow protectors in the day.”

It was in neighbouring Telangana last weekend that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent out a hard-hitting message against attacks on Dalits and cow vigilantism, saying:

“If you have a problem, if you feel like attacking someone, attack me, not my Dalit brothers. If you want to shoot anyone, shoot me, not my Dalit brothers.” He said “fake Gau Rakshaks” are “dividing the nation and should be isolated.”