Muslim women raped by Hindu gang 'for eating beef'

'They asked if we eat beef. We said we didn't, but they insisted we did,' says victim

A Muslim woman who was gang raped in India has said her attackers asked her whether she ate beef in what some suspect was another crime by Hindu vigilante groups.

The 20-year-old and her 14-year-old cousin were attacked by a group of men who trespassed into their home in Mewat, Haryana, and murdered their uncle and aunt before sexually assaulting the female victims two weeks ago.

Local police originally arrested four men for trespass and sexual assault, but after protests from the local community the men were charged with murder.

Now the older victim has said the men asked the victims whether they ate beef before insisting they did and proceeding to attack them.

She told NDTV: “They asked if we eat beef. We said we don't, but they insisted we did.

"Then they said we're hurting you before so you don't and that if we tell anyone we'll will be insulted."

Senior police officers have so far reportedly said the men had no link to so-called "cow vigilante groups".

But the Muslim community has expressed fears about a rise in attacks by Hindu groups.

Many Hindus consider cows sacred and the slaughter of the animal is banned in Haryana, along with several other states.

Earlier this year two Muslim women were reportedly been beaten up at a train station in India on suspicion of carrying beef.