Three traders were thrashed by a group of seven cow vigilantes and forced to say 'Jai Shree Ram' in Malegaon tehsil of Maharashtra's Washim district on Friday, as they suspected that the three men were carrying beef for sale. A video of the incident has now gone viral on social media.
The Malegaon police have arrested all the assailants as well as two of the men who were thrashed, and registered cases against them.
According to the police, the incident took place on May 26 in Rajora village, after the vigilantes received information that three men would be transporting 'beef' for sale. Seven men then reached the village and started beating the three traders.
Later, the vigilantes took the traders to Malegaon police station with their equipment and the 'beef'. Both the parties filed complaints against each other.
Following the incident, the police searched several slaughter houses in Malegaon and neighbouring Shirpur. The police said that all the accused were produced in a local court, where they were released on bail.
Mokshanda Patil, Superintendent of Police of Washim district said: "We have arrested nine persons and registered two separate cases. Seven of them are the men who attacked the traders. The youths who were attacked have also been booked under Section 429 (mischief by killing or maiming cattle) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act."
"The situation is under control and the samples of the alleged beef have been seized and sent to the state forensic laboratory in Nagpur for verification. Probe is on to ascertain the traders' exact porofession," Patil added.
In the mobile video of the incident, the cow vigilantes can be seen shouting slogans and assaulting the youths for allegedly possessing beef. In the video, the traders can be seen claiming that the meat was of a buffalo and not of a cow. However, the vigilantes thrash one of the traders and force him to say 'Jai Shree Ram'.
Rather than taking law into their own hands, the police have urged the public to inform them if they suspect anyone of selling beef, so that action could be taken after verification.
...& ANALYSIS
- Maharashtra has in place a complete ban on the slaughter and sale of meat from bulls, bullocks and buffaloes.
- However, as per a Bombay HC ruling, it is not illegal to eat or possess the meat of these animals if they are brought from outside state.
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