– Zaina Aman
24 Jun. 24: In a controversial move, the Madhya Pradesh government has invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against two Muslim men accused of involvement in an alleged cow slaughter incident. This decision was accompanied by the abrupt transfer of Seoni district’s collector and superintendent of police.
The Seoni police brought four accused before the local court, resulting in Santosh Kavreti and Ramdas Uike being sent to judicial custody, while Shadab Khan and Wahid Khan were remanded in police custody for three days. Notably, NSA charges were specifically invoked against Shadab and Wahid, as confirmed by police officials speaking to PTI.
On Saturday, another individual named Irfan Mohammad was arrested in connection with the case.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced that the state’s Criminal Investigation Department, under Additional Director General Pawan Shrivastava, would spearhead a thorough investigation into what he termed “barbaric killings.” He emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards crimes involving cows, stating, “No crime against gau mata (mother cow) will be tolerated.”
In tandem with these measures, CM Yadav announced the transfer of Seoni’s collector Kshitij Singhal and SP Rakesh Kumar Singh. Sanskruti Jain has been appointed as the new collector in their place.
Yadav reiterated, “Every accused involved in the case would face tough action,” underscoring the severity with which the government intends to pursue this matter.
This move by the BJP-led government in Madhya Pradesh comes amidst ongoing tensions surrounding the treatment of Muslims during Eid al-Adha, with Hindu nationalist groups frequently targeting individuals involved in animal sacrifices. Such incidents have often led to arrests, public attacks by right-wing mobs, and vandalism of properties owned by the accused.
