A sessions court in Gujarat’s Kalol has sentenced three Muslim men to rigorous life imprisonment for cow slaughter and an attempt to sell the meat. The judge cited Hindu scriptures, including the Vedas and the Manusmriti, to explain the cultural significance of cow protection.
Additional Sessions Judge BR Rajput also fined each convict Rs 2 lakh. The convicts are Wasim Qureshi, Mahmad Rafiq Qureshi and Asfaq Bahelimof Ahmedabad.The court convicted them under the Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, along with other provisions.
The case goes back to August 22, 2024. Police raided a house belonging to LalabhaiSenma in Jamla village. They seized 277 kg of beef, valued at around Rs 55,000, according to the prosecution.
Police arrested six people in connection with the case. After the trial, the court convicted three of them. The report does not state what happened to the other three accused.
Meanwhile, two Muslim buffalo traders were allegedly beaten with sticks and tied up by a group of men in Hardua village in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district. The men suspected them of cattle theft and cow slaughter. The incident took place in the Hindoria police station area on October 26. The traders, Abid Qureshi and Hasan Qureshi, allege a group stopped them while they transported buffaloes in a pickup vehicle. They claim the attackers were associated with the Bajrang Dal.