Vijayawada: Eight persons were yesterday arrested by Allavaram police in East Godavari district for allegedly thrashing two Dalits trying to skin a dead cow.

Police, however, clarified the incident, which happened late on Monday night, had nothing to do with “cow vigilantism” as suspected. CM N Chandrababu Naidu expressed anger over the incident and warned that anyone trying to disturb law and order would be sternly dealt with.