NEW DELHI, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme Court of India on Monday issued contempt notices to governments of three states -- Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana, for allegedly failing to prevent incidents of "cow vigilantism."

This assumes significance in the aftermath of recent incidents whereby several people were lynched by mobs for allegedly smuggling or killing cows, considered as a sacred animal by the Hindus.

Cow is venerated by a large section of India's population, particularly the Hindus, and the incidents of cow vigilantism have mainly targeted people from the Muslim community. The term is used to describe the incidents of lawlessness happening under the garb of cow protection.

On Sept. 6, the top court had asked 26 Indian states to maintain law and order and prevent violence by cow vigilantes by deputing officers to patrol along highways and main roads.

The first incident of cow vigilantism was reported from Dadri area in Uttar Pradesh in 2015, in which an elderly man identified as Mohammad Akhlaq was beaten to death after allegations that he had killed a cow.

In July last year, four men belonging to lower casts were stripped, tied to a car and flogged in the western state of Gujarat. In Alwar district of Rajasthan, a 55-year-old dairy owner identified as Pehlu Khan was beaten to death on suspicion of cattle smuggling.

The video-footage of Khan being pulled by the neck, thrown to the ground and kicked by cow vigilantes had sparked nationwide outrage.

As reports of similar incidents from other states piled up, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers had condemned incidents of cow vigilantism, saying they must end.