Cow protection law

who died of his injuries in hospital. The police filed a chargesheet against seven persons, all of whom allegedly worked to “protect” cows from slaughter.

On March 27, 2017, the Gau Rakshak Dal of Surat’s Gabhru Bharwad lodged a complaint against drivers of two tempos they had intercepted on Palsana Bardoli road near Dhamrod village. The drivers had fled, leaving behind five cows in each vehicle.

In Panchmahal district, 87 cases of alleged transport of cattle to slaughter houses were registered last year. In one case, the Godhra Taluka police arrested three persons for allegedly transporting 14 bullocks near Vavdi toll plaza in Godhra town.

The same year, 30 cases were registered in Anand district — in most cases, for transporting cattle and cow meat. In eleven cases, a total 2,930 kg meat, mostly of cows, were seized.

A superintendent of police said on condition of anonymity, “The amended law is good, as it will work as a deterrent. We have seen this recently in the case of the liquor law — after it was made a non-bailable offence, many habitual bootleggers who used to get bail easily are behind bars. There will be a similar impact in cases of cow slaughter. Trading in cow meat is anyway not lucrative, so offenders will think twice before indulging in such acts.”

In at least a dozen orders pronounced between 2012 and 2017, the Gujarat High Court found that the police had registered cases for either carrying buffaloes for slaughter or buffalo meat. The accused had moved the court for the release of vehicles impounded under the 2011 Act, that provides for their seizure for six months. The court ordered police to release such vehicles since they were carrying animals or meat other than that of cow.

“There is a lot of harassment by the authorities. I have at least three dozen cases, 60% of which deal with buffaloes. However, the police treat all cases under the same Act,” advocate Soeb Bhoheria said. “The lower courts hardly consider the difference, and we have to move the High Court every time for the release of vehicles that were impounded wrongly.” (INPUTS FROM RITESH GOHIL IN VADODARA

AND GOPAL KATESHIYA IN RAJKOT) FULL REPORT ON INDIANEXPRESS.COM