Beef Smuggling Racket Busted, 10 Arrested in Himachal & U’khand
In a major crackdown, a massive inter-state beef smuggling racket, allegedly involved in slaughtering dozens of cows in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, was busted on Monday. The police have arrested around 10 people from the racket, and are still searching for the rest.
The racket was unearthed after the body parts of slaughtered cows were found in the Yamuna river, leading to widespread protests by Hindu organizations in the region. The protests were held on Monday, with activists demanding stern action against those involved in the illegal activity.
According to the police, the racket was operating in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur and Solan districts, as well as Uttarakhand’s Dehradun and Haridwar districts. The gang would allegedly procure cows from these areas and transport them to other states, where they were slaughtered and sold as beef.
The police received a tip-off about the racket and launched a sting operation, which led to the arrest of the 10 individuals. The accused include local cow breeders, middlemen, and transporters.
“During the investigation, we found that the gang was using fake documents and forged licenses to transport the cows. They would also bribe officials to avoid detection,” said a police officer involved in the operation.
The police have seized several vehicles, including trucks and motorcycles, used in the illegal activity. The investigation is ongoing, and the police are still searching for the masterminds behind the racket.
The busting of the racket has sent shockwaves in the region, with many calling for stricter laws to curb cow slaughter and beef smuggling. The Hindu organizations that protested on Monday have demanded that the state governments take immediate action against those involved in the illegal activity.
The issue of beef smuggling has been a contentious one in India, with many states implementing bans on the sale and consumption of beef. The matter has also been litigated in courts, with some states challenging the ban as unconstitutional.
The Himachal Pradesh government has been cracking down on cow slaughter and beef smuggling in recent months, with several cases of illegal activity being reported in the state. In Uttarakhand, the government has also launched a drive to curb cow slaughter and beef smuggling, with several arrests being made in recent weeks.
The busting of the racket is seen as a major victory for the police and the state governments, which have been working to curb the illegal activity. The incident highlights the need for stronger laws and stricter enforcement to prevent such illegal activities from taking place in the future.
Source: https://repository.inshorts.com/articles/en/PTI/8a954f4f-7383-42cc-b8ef-7b1a3bddde9d
