Daijiworld Media Network - Margao

Margao, Apr 23: Tensions flared on Tuesday at Margao railway station after a consignment of meat, suspected to be beef, was found abandoned, following a late-night raid by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) at the Konkan Railway Police Station. The raid was part of an investigation into allegations surrounding a demand related to beef.

The discovery of the meat sparked unrest, with members of Hindu right-wing groups confronting a man seen near the consignment. Margao police intervened, taking the individual into custody for questioning but later released him without charge.

Rajeev Jha, the Rashtriya president of Kesariya Hindu Vahini, accused the ‘beef mafia’ of attempting to frame Konkan railway police station PI Sunil Gudlar. Jha suggested that the police officer, known for intercepting illegal beef shipments, was being targeted to remove him from his position. "Every time PI Gudlar acted on information about beef shipments, he was successful. This is a plot to discredit him," Jha claimed, adding that the consignment had been disguised as mutton.

Jha further criticized the system, stating that lax enforcement allowed such illegal activities to persist. "If proper actions had been taken, this would not have happened," he said. He also revealed that Hindu group members had informed the police and Animal Husbandry department about the consignment before it was discovered.

The situation highlights the ongoing issue of illegal beef trade in Goa, which has been a point of contention, especially among Hindu right-wing groups.