Amid ongoing row over lynching of a Muslim man in Rajasthan's Alwar, 'animal rights activists' on Saturday night attacked three men in Kalkaji area of South East Delhi over suspicion of cattle smuggling.

A few men led by a People For Animal (PFA) intercepted a mini truck and assaulted three men on suspicion that were carrying buffaloes illegally, said police.

The victims have been identified as Rizwan (25), Ashu(28) and Kamil (25). They have received injuries on face and lips and have been shied to AIIMS trauma centre through PCR.

According to the police, they received a PCR call last night from one Gaurav Gupta, an animal activist and office bearer of PFA (People for Animals), claiming that buffaloes were being transported illegally.

The occupants of the truck claimed that they had been roughed up by a group of animal rights activists led by Gupta.

However, the PFA denied any association with the incident. Union minister Maneka Gandhi is one of the founding members of People For Animals and is also its chairperson.

"We have no PFA unit in Delhi. We have 10,000 volunteers across the country. Whoever acted did so in his individual capacity," Gandhi's office said.

Vehicle carrying animals has been shifted to Society For Prevention Of Cruelty To Animal​ (SPCA). Police are verifying whether those assaulted had adequate permission or buffaloes were being smuggled.

On Saturday, five persons, including a nine-year-old girl, were injured after cow vigilantes attacked a nomad family in Talwara area of Jammu and Kashmir while moving with their livestock.