Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jun 30: During the last four months after the cow slaughter ban law was enforced in Karnataka, a total of 29 first information reports (FIR) have been registered in the state pertaining to illegal cattle trafficking, slaughter etc. Out of them, eight cases have been registered in Dakshina Kannada district. This is the highest for any district in Karnataka. Mysuru district stands second with seven cases.
Beef was found to have been transported in fish and milk transportation vehicles in Mangaluru. Hindu organizations had also found cows along with young calves being transported in a truck illegally.
Cattle rescued during illegal transportation (file photo)
The police had raided a spot inside a rubber plantation in Beltangady where cows bought from Sullia were slaughtered and beef was made. During the raid there, 100 kg of beef was recovered. An illegal slaughterhouse had been set up in Beltangady from where beef was taken to urban areas. These are the main cases, the others being raids conducted during illegal transportation of the cattle.
In the new anti-cow slaughter act, the quantum of imprisonment and fine have been considerably increased and tough clauses have been added. The law has empowered sub-inspectors of police to siege the area where cow slaughter takes place and to take away animals. Illegal cow slaughter and sale of beef are criminal offences which attract three to ten years of jail and fine up to five lac rupees. With repeated offences, the sentence and penalty gets increased.
People who transport cattle for agriculture, have to provide all the details to the department of animal husbandry and obtain certificate from the department to transport the cattle.
In the state, a total of 58 complaints under the said law were received, out of which 29 FIRs were filed. Fifty persons have been identified as accused. Three cases are being heard by courts, two are in the state of charge sheet submission while in other cases investigation is in progress. Chikkamagaluru has three cases, Tumakuru and Mandya two each while Hassan, Ramanagara, Uttara Kannada, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Ballari and Kodagu districts have one case each.