In Kutch, two men detained under PASA over cow slaughter

“The duo were formally detained at 9:30 am on Friday under PASA after district magistrate approved our proposal for their detention. The district magistrate has ordered to send Mokha to Vadodara Central Jail and Mandhariya to Lajpore Central Jail in Surat. Accordingly, two police parties are escorting the duo to the respective jails,” said Yograjsinh Gohil, in-charge police inspector, LCB.

Mokha and Mandhariya were first booked for cow slaughter and beef sale on December 12, 2015. But they got bail. They were caught again on March 9 this year when police conducted a raid and found them possessing beef. They were booked again under IPC, Gujarat Preservation of Animal (Amendment) Act, 2011 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. However, the Gujarat High Court granted them bail on June 16.

“While cow slaughter is illegal, it can also have wider ramifications given the religious sentiments attached with the cow. Therefore, I had moved the proposal of PASA action against these two offenders and after receiving it through the LCB, the district magistrate has approved it,” Bhuj B Division police inspector Mahesh Boksha said.
Superintendent of Kutch West police, Makrand Chauhan, said they had moved the proposal after two cases were registered against the duo in short period of time.

“Two cases were registered against them under the Gujarat Preservation of Animal (Amendment) Act, 2011 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for cow slaughter and beef sale. As a routine procedure, we forwarded a proposal to detain them under PASA to the district magistrate. The DM examined witnesses whose statements we had attached to the proposal and concluded that prima facie, action was warranted against the due under PASA. There is no legal slaughterhouses in the district and these men were indulging in illegal activity,” Chauhan said.

Cow slaughter and beef sale or trade is a non-bailable offence and if proven guilty, an offender can be sentenced to seven years imprisonment. After the order of the Kutch district magistrate, the state government will have to approve of the order, else the duo will be released. In case the government gives green signal to the action taken by the DM, then the matter will be placed before PASA advisory board.