A tense situation unfolded in Mathura after the death of a cow vigilante, Chandra Shekhar, widely known as Farsa Baba, in a road accident early Saturday morning. The incident took place around 4 am on the busy Agra-Delhi highway. This quickly led to large-scale protests by his supporters, who blocked the road and caused a major traffic disruption that lasted until the afternoon before authorities managed to restore order.

According to the police, the incident occurred amid heavy fog, which reduced visibility on the highway. Officials stated that Baba, along with one of his disciples, had stopped a container truck near the Kotvan border area after suspecting it was transporting cattle illegally. However, upon inspection, the vehicle, which had a Nagaland registration number, was found to be carrying everyday goods such as soap, phenyl, and shampoo, and not cows as initially believed.

District authorities explained that while Baba and others were still present on the road, another truck registered in Rajasthan approached the area carrying wire. Due to the dense fog and poor visibility, the driver failed to notice the group in time and crashed into them. The impact killed Farsa Baba on the spot, while the truck driver suffered injuries and the vehicle was also damaged. District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh stated that the accident appeared to be unintentional and primarily caused by the weather conditions and low visibility during the early hours.

Despite the official explanation, Baba’s supporters claimed that the incident was not an accident but a deliberate act. They alleged that he was targeted and run over by cow smugglers when he tried to stop their vehicle. As these claims spread quickly, tensions escalated, and a large number of people gathered at the site. Protesters blocked the highway, raised slogans, and in some cases turned violent, leading to incidents of stone-pelting.

The situation worsened when some protesters began damaging police and government vehicles as authorities attempted to clear the road and control the crowd. According to officials, at least six police personnel and a similar number of protesters were injured during the clashes. Videos circulating on social media also showed scenes of vandalism and chaos, reflecting the intensity of the protest.

Senior police officials rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control and to prevent further escalation. Shailesh Pandey assured the public that the matter would be investigated thoroughly and fairly. He conveyed that strict action would be taken not only against those responsible for the incident but also against individuals involved in the violence and disruption during the protests. Authorities worked throughout the day to calm the crowd and gradually succeeded in dispersing the protesters and reopening the highway for normal traffic movement.

The Mathura administration announced that a detailed investigation would be conducted to determine the exact sequence of events and address the concerns raised by Baba’s supporters. Officials also appealed to the public to maintain peace and not rely on rumours or unverified information.

The incident happened at a time when President Droupadi Murmu was in the region. She was visiting Mathura as part of her three-day trip to Uttar Pradesh and was at Govardhan, 25 kilometres from the accident site. During her visit, she offered prayers and participated in religious rituals, including the aarti of Giriraj Ji Maharaj and the Govardhan Parikrama.

Although the situation has now been brought under control, the incident raised concerns about road safety, the spread of rumours, and the potential for such events to quickly escalate into public unrest. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely while ensuring that law and order is maintained.