Two Muslim men engaged in cattle trade were beaten up on Friday and hanged to death from a tree by unidentified attackers at Balumath forests in Latehar district, 100km from Ranchi.
The deceased have been identified as Muhammad Majloom (35) and Azad Khan alias Ibrahim (15) who were relatives.
Their hands were tied behind their backs and their mouths were stuffed with a cloth.
"The sight suggested that the two of them were subjected to extreme levels of brutality. It means that the assailants were moved by extreme hatred," a police officer said.
The sight of the hanging men sparked off protests in Jhabbar village of Balumath. SDO Kamleshwar Narayan and six cops were injured in stone pelting by the locals.
The locals claimed that the assailants were Hindu radicals who targeted the men because they were engaged in cattle trade.
"Four months ago a group of men had tried to kill a cattle trader in Gomia village of Balumath. The man managed to escape," Latehar MLA Prakash Ram said.
An FIR was lodged against unknown persons for murder and another FIR was lodged against few known locals for harming the SDO and other officials.
"It is not yet known if business enmity or other motive was behind the murder," SP Birthary said.
