While several incidents being reported over violence in the name of cow protection, a mob on Saturday attacked 'gau rakshaks' after they intercepted a tempo reportedly illegally carrying cows to a slaughterhouse, reported Indian Express.

The incident took place near Shrigonda police station in Ahmednagar district on Maharashtra.

Seven persons were injured in the incident.

“We got information about a tempo transporting cows illegally. We informed the Shrigonda police about it. With the help of police, the tempo was intercepted near Hotel Tiranga on the Daund Ahmednagar road. Ten oxen and two cows were rescued," said Shivshankar Rajendra Swami of Pune, who claims to be a legally appointed ‘honorary animal welfare officer’.

The owner of the tempo, Wahid Shaikh, and driver Raju Fatrubhai Shaikh have been arrested under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, he added.

​Swami also said that when they left the police station after registering a complaint against Wahid Shaikh and Raju Shaikh, a mob of about 50, with some carrying sharp weapons and stones, attacked them.

“As per the FIR lodged by Swami, we have booked about 30 persons, said Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ahmednagar, Sudarshan Munde.

The report said that Swami is a complainant in about 300 cases of alleged illegal cow transportation and slaughtering in Pune and other districts of Maharashtra.

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned those breaking the law in the name of cow protection and asked the states to take stringent action against them, but cautioned against giving political or communal colour to the issue.

Last week, Four persons were allegedly thrashed by a vigilante group on the suspicion of being cow smugglers in a remote tribal village in Betul district.