Bijnor, July 11: In a significant operation, the Bijnor police have arrested three individuals, identified as Rahul S/o Amichand, Sachin S/o Mansingh, and Brijpal S/o Ghanshyam, all residents of Village Inayatpur in Barhapur police station, with over two quintals (220 kilograms) of beef in Badhapur area, according to the Time Report of Bijnor. The accused were apprehended with the contraband meat in their vehicle, an Innova, following a tip-off.
The Bijnor police have been vigilant in combating illegal cattle slaughter and beef trade in the region. Despite stringent measures by the Uttar Pradesh government, incidents of cattle slaughter and beef trafficking continue to surface. The recent arrest has raised concerns due to the involvement of the three accused, all of whom are Hindu according to the report citing police sources, in an activity typically associated with different demographic groups.
According to a statement from the Bijnor police, the arrested individuals had taken two oxen into the forest, where a butcher named Mustafa allegedly slaughtered the animals. The meat was then loaded into the vehicle for distribution. While the police successfully apprehended Rahul, Sachin and Brijpal, the driver and other persons reportedly managed to escape and remain at large.
This incident is not an isolated one. Previous cases in Agra and Moradabad have also seen Hindu activists arrested for similar offenses. In the Bijnor case, the police acted on confidential information about the slaughter and intercepted the vehicle in the forest. The officers found beef and slaughtering tools inside the vehicle, although the occupants initially managed to flee the scene.
Under the current administration of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh, there has been a significant crackdown on cattle slaughter and beef trade. The arrested individuals have been remanded in custody pending further investigation.
