In a significant crackdown on the illegal beef trade, police officials in Madhya Pradesh demolished homes built on government land by 11 individuals in the Mandla district. This operation was part of an ongoing effort to combat the unlawful beef trade in the state.Authorities acted on a tip-off about a large number of cows being held for slaughter in the Bhainwahi area of Nainpur. A team was rushed there, and we found 150 cows tied in the backyards of the accused. Cow meat was recovered from the refrigerators in the homes of all 11 accused. We also found animal fat, cattle skin, and bones, which were stuffed in a room, stated Rajat Saklecha, Superintendent of Police (SP).Confirmation and Further InvestigationA local government veterinary doctor confirmed that the seized meat was indeed beef. We have also sent samples to Hyderabad for secondary DNA analysis. The houses of the 11 accused were demolished as they were on government land, added SP Saklecha.Ongoing Police EffortsFollowing the recovery of cows and beef, a first information report was registered on Friday night. One individual has been arrested, while the search for the remaining ten accused continues. The 150 cows have been sent to a cattle shelter. The Bhainwahi area had become a hub of cow smuggling for some time now. Cow slaughter in Madhya Pradesh is punishable with a jail term of seven years, the police official noted.Tension in Ratlam DistrictIn a related development, Jaora town in Madhya Pradeshs Ratlam district witnessed tension after body parts of a bovine animal were found on the premises of a local temple. Hindu groups staged a protest over the incident at the Jaagnath Mahadev temple in the early hours of Friday. Police resorted to teargas and lathi charges to control the situation.Arrests and DemolitionTwo individuals, Salman Mevati (24) and Shaqir Qureshi (19), were arrested for allegedly throwing bovine body parts at the temple. Authorities also demolished the illegal portions of their homes.These incidents underscore the ongoing efforts by authorities to enforce laws against illegal beef trading and cow slaughter in Madhya Pradesh, as well as the social tensions that can arise from such activities.
