"It's not only holy reverence that drives them to such vigilantism -- there is adventure too. Some of the younger gau rakshaks enjoy the thrill of the chase: Stopping vehicles, wielding weapons, badgering passengers and then gloating."

Dhruv Munjal on what motivates gau rakshaks. Read


Image: Gau rakshaks get tip-offs about possible cow smugglers in the area on their mobile phones. Photograph: Allison Joyce/Getty Images