Post beef ban, VHP men man a helpline, keep cops busy

Senior Police Inspector S D Langhe told Newsline, “We had information that the two bullocks were illegally smuggled for slaughtering within our jurisdiction. A team was sent and the accused has been arrested. This is the first case in the Nizampura police station under the new Act.”

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The arrested suspect, Opi Hameed Dole (33), is a tempo driver.

It was around 2.15 pm Tuesday when Ashutosh Tiwari, Parishad’s volunteer, received a call. He asked the caller, “khabar pakki hai na (is the information credible?)”. After the caller confirmed, at 4.30 pm, around four men from the Parishad along with eight policemen waited along the Pakhadi road in Bhiwandi and halted tempo number MH06 AG 5487. The tempo cover was lifted and two bullocks raised their heads. A thrilled Tiwari said, “Fourth time’s the charm.”

Thrice earlier, police had conducted raids based on their tip-offs but had to return empty-handed.

Meanwhile, the police in Mumbai have intensified patrolling in sensitive pockets where beef demand is huge. “We have increased patrolling in areas like Nagpada, Byculla, Agripada in South Mumbai and Govandi, Mankhurd in the eastern suburbs to ensure cattle is not smuggled or slaughtered here,” a senior police officer said.

According to Rajendra Patil, state president of the VHP’s gowraksha cell, the modus operandi of transporting these animals has changed. These animals, who were once carried openly, often stuffed inside tempos during the day, are now being brought in trucks under the cover of night, hidden by tarpoline sheets.

“We get information from several Jain and Hindu groups and individuals who care about these animals. They are concerned about their safety and do not want to get publicly involved in the matter. They just tell us and we do a recee and inform the police. We missed so many chances because there are leaks in the local police force,” said Patil.

The impounded animals are taken to the Parishad’s gowshala at Bhiwandi-Angaon, where around 1,800 old, infirm bulls, bullocks, cows and buffaloes are cared for.

“We do it because gau mata is special and I have been especially blessed by her. I used to eat meat before, chicken and fish mainly, but since volunteering here, I have become a vegetarian and the gaumutr-based medicine has even cured my asthma,” says Patil, just as the helpline for “gowvansh raksha 8898770707” buzzed again.

anjali.lukose@expressindia.com