Gujarat Sees 629 Cattle Trafficking Cases and 1,810 Arrests in Two Years
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Key Takeaways
Gandhinagar, Feb 25 (NationPress) Over the last two years, Gujarat has recorded a staggering 629 cases of cattle trafficking, resulting in the arrest of 1,810 individuals during a comprehensive initiative targeting illegal cow meat and cattle trafficking, as revealed in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
In response to inquiries about Mahisagar and Amreli districts and the state at large, Minister of State for Law, Kaushik Vekariya, announced that the government had escalated its enforcement of cattle protection regulations, implementing both punitive and preventive strategies against offenders.
Detailing the actions taken, Vekariya disclosed that approximately 54,000 kilograms of cow meat were confiscated during this review period.
Additionally, 1,800 cattle slated for slaughter were successfully rescued.
The minister noted that 433 vehicles involved in these alleged crimes were seized, with 339 of them subsequently auctioned.
Preventive detention measures under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA) were enacted against 184 individuals, and externment proceedings against 50 were initiated.
Vekariya further stated that properties valued at around Rs 6 crore associated with accused individuals were demolished, dubbing the action as “Dada’s bulldozer.”
In addressing the Assembly, he emphasized, “In our culture, the cow is not merely an animal but is regarded as a mother, housing 33 crore deities.”
He also mentioned that the state government is appointing Special Public Prosecutors to guarantee the “strictest possible punishment” for accused individuals to prevent their release.
Providing a district-wise breakdown, Vekariya stated that in Amreli district, 12 cases were filed over the past two years, leading to 21 convictions, with fines imposed.
Among these, three offenders received life sentences, eleven were sentenced to ten years, and three received seven-year terms.
A total of Rs 42 lakh was recovered from those convicted. In Mahisagar district, eight offences were recorded during the same timeframe, resulting in the seizure of 1,940 kilograms of cow meat.
Approximately 10 bovines were rescued, and legal measures were initiated against 28 individuals. Thirteen vehicles were confiscated in the district, with further investigations ongoing, as per the minister's update.