By IndiaTomorrow.net,
Kurukshetra, Haryana, 29 Nov 2015: Just ten days after the Haryana government of Bharatiya Janata Party enforced its anti-cow slaughter and cow smuggling law, the state police shot dead an alleged cattle smuggler and seriously injured another in an alleged encounter in Kurukshetra district early on Sunday.
The encounter reportedly took place in Thanesar area of the district when the cattle smugglers were transporting cows in a pick-up jeep, police officials said.
“The smugglers were transporting cows in the pick-up vehicle when area villagers and police tried to stop them. However, they hit a police control room vehicle and fired on a police team that returned the fire. One smuggler was killed while another was injured in the shootout,” Kurukshetra district police chief Simardeep Singh was quoted as saying by IANS news agency.
According to PTI news agency, the deceased has been identified as Abid (27) of Yamunanagar and his injured accomplice is Ashraf (28), also of Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra Superintendent of Police (SP) Simardeep Singh said.
On 19th Nov, the Haryana government of chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar implemented the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan & Gausamvardhan Act – 2015 that prohibits cow slaughter, export of cows and sale of beef. The offenses under the Act are cognisable and non-bailable with three to ten years imprisonment and Rs 30,000 to one lakh as fine.
In mid-October BJP leader and Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, in an interview to a national English daily, had said: “Muslim rahein, magar is desh mein beef khaana chhodna hi hoga unko. Yahan ki manyata hai gau (Muslims can continue to live in this country, but they will have to give up eating beef. The cow is an article of faith here). His remarks had earned him huge criticism from across political spectrum and the minority community whose population in the country is more than 170 million.
Main features of Haryana anti-cow slaughter law:
— Prohibition of cow slaughter
— Restriction on export of cows for slaughter in states where there is no ban on cow slaughter
— Prohibition of sale of beef
— Establishment of institutions to keep, maintain and care the infirm, injured and stray cows
— Financial and technical assistance for Gausamvardhan
— Implementation of schemes for conservation and up-gradation of indigenous cows and incentives on production, processing and marketing of milk of Desi cows
— Establishment of laboratories for testing of carotene and other constituents of milk and milk products and differentiation of A1 and A2 milk.
The law has provision for a Maximum rigorous imprisonment of 10 years
Offenses under the Act are cognisable and non-bailable:
— Maximum rigorous imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh
— Provision for minimum 3 years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 30,000 for offences under the Act
— In case of default in payment of fine, additional imprisonment of one year
— Confiscation of vehicles used in the commission of offences under the Act
“Haryana is committed for conservation and protection of cows. An effective Act to provide for Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan has been implemented in the state. Let us join hands for contributing towards the development and care of livestock for the well being of the state in the true spirit of Haryana Ek – Haryanvi Ek doctrine,” Haryana CM Manohar Lal said.
In run-up to the recently concluded Bihar Assembly elections, cow politics and beef politics had captured the large space of political and media debates.
In the last three months, three Muslims have been lynched in as many states over rumours of beef eating or cow smuggling. The Dadri beef lynching of September had hit the national and international headlines.
— With inputs from IANS
