Bajrang Dal threatens use of militant methods8217; on Bakri Id

MUMBAI, March 28: Bajrang Dal activists have threatened militant action' to enforce a ban on the slaughter and transportation of beef in...

MUMBAI, March 28: Bajrang Dal activists have threatened militant action8217; to enforce a ban on the slaughter and transportation of beef in Mumbai on Monday, which happens to be both Id-ul-Zuha and Mahavir Jayanti. The Dal, which staged a rasta roko at Dahisar today, has set up three checkposts at Chembur, Dahisar and Mulund to stop the entry of vehicles carrying cows to abattoirs tomorrow, informed Shankar Gaikar, joint convenor of the Bajrang Dal8217;s state unit.

The Dal has also deployed 18 mobile vans all over the state, including three in Mumbai, to monitor their self-imposed ban. According to Gaikar, the state government has ignored several representations asking for a ban on the killing of cows and calves on this day. 8220;How can we allow cow slaughter on a day which is celebrated as Mahavir Jayanti,8221; asked Gaikar.

However, General secretary of the Mumbai suburban Khatik Association, Mohammed Ali Patel, told Express Newsline that all slaughter houses and shops will keep commercial slaughteringclosed on Monday. 8220;We have issued a circular to our 600 members to ensure that no commercial killing takes place tomorrow,8221; said Patel. The Deonar abattoir will also suspend commercial operations on Monday, but arrangements have been made to permit the slaughter of sacrificial goats, he added.

Samajwadi Party SP city unit chief Yusuf Abrahani said the party would not take the Dal8217;s threats lying down. 8220;If the Bajrang Dal attacks Muslims, we will be forced to retaliate. However, we will first ask the police to protect Muslims, as it is their duty to protect all citizens.8221; The police said adequate bandobast would be made in the city. As a preventive measure, the city police have already rounded up more than 150 persons under section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Twenty platoons of the State Reserve Police have also been deployed to assist the local police. Security has been intensified in sensitive areas like Dongri, Nagpada, Agripada, Govandi and Bandra.