Eight Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers were arrested here on Thursday in connection with the public slaughter of a bull on May 27 . The bull was slaughtered in protest against the Central government's notification banning sale of cattle for slaughter.
The Kannur City police arrested IYC Kannur Parliament constituency committee president Rijil Makutty and IYC functionaries and workers A. Hari, Joshi Kandathil, Sharafuddin Kattampally, N.K. Varun, Sudeep James, Justison Chandikolli and Shamej Peralasseri.
The police said that the case was registered against them under sections 3 (infliction of unnecessary pain and suffering on animals) and 11 (treating animals cruelly) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Indian Penal Code Section 143 (unlawful assembly) and the Kerala Police Act's section 120(a) (causing inconvenience to the public).
The IYC workers' public slaughter of the animal had kicked up a row as it was condemned by both Sangh Parivar leaders and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
Mr. Makutty, Mr. Kandathil and Mr. Kattampally had been suspended from the IYC and the Congress following the incident.
