Following petition by Hindutva groups, police to act against illegal abattoirs

State police issue circular; officers instructed to keep a tab on transport of catttle

Following a petition by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal leaders that illegal slaughterhouses “thrive during Bakrid”, which falls on September 13 this year, the State police has issued a circular to all districts to strictly enforce Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964.

In the circular issued on behalf of Director General and Inspector General of Police Om Prakash, Assistant Inspector General of Police M.V. Chandrakanth has directed SPs, Police Commissioners and Range Inspector Generals to identify illegal slaughterhouses and take action.

Specific mention

The circular also makes a specific mention of Tannery Road and Shivaji Nagar areas in Bengaluru, which according to the petitioners has the “highest number of illegal slaughterhouses”.

Though, according to a senior police officer, such circulars are issued every year, this time the police have decided to be extra vigilant. “We anticipate serious issues this time as vigilante groups want to make the most use of such situations,” a senior police officer said.

The city police have already alerted police stations which fall at the entry and exit points of the city. Police stations like Electronics City, Yeshwantpur and K.R. Puram have been instructed to keep a tab on cattle transportation activities, he said. The jurisdictional police of sensitive areas have also been alerted to step up security to ensure law and order, he added.

Interestingly, the police are not contemplating any specific action against vigilante groups, including those associated with VHP and Bajrang Dal, which have been carrying out attacks on people in the name of “cow protection”. It may be mentioned here that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his recent statement on cow protectors, had suggested that States prepare dossiers on vigilante groups.

However, the police in some sensitive districts have on their own started identifying persons involved in vigilante attacks in the name of cow protection. For instance, police in Chikkamagaluru, which saw Dalits at Shantipura in Koppa taluk being attacked recently, has started making a dossier on vigilante groups.