Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Sulkhan Singh has asked officials to book those accused of cow slaughter or trafficking in cattle for slaughter under the National Security Act (NSA) and the Gangsters Act.
“Cow slaughter and transportation of cattle for slaughter must be strictly prevented,” Mr. Singh told SPs and SSPs.
This is not the first time that the State government has promised stringent punishment for cow slaughter.
In 2014, the Akhilesh Yadav government gave its approval to slap the Gangsters Act and the Goondas Act on those accused of cow slaughter. The State government had made an amendment to the Acts to include the offence.
Soon after taking charge in April, Mr. Singh vowed “strict action” against those involved in “vigilantism” for cow protection and asserted that no citizen had the “right to intervene.”
However, his latest note to district police chiefs, comprising over 30 points, including instructions on handling cow slaughter, does not mention vigilante groups or the self-designated ‘gau rakshaks.’
‘An intimidation’
U.P. vice-president of the All India Jamiatul Quresh, Shakeel Qureshi, says that by issuing such orders, the State police were further intimidating those involved in cattle trade.
“Such rules harass those involved in the business,” said Mr. Qureshi.
He demanded that if those accused of cow slaughter or trafficking in cattle were to be booked under the NSA and the Gangsters Act, similar action should be taken against vigilante groups.
