MARGAO, NOV 17
Police in Margao police subdivision were literally kept on their toes since last night as Hindu organisations maintained a vigil on illegal slaughter of cattle on the eve of Id.
The police also maintained a close eye on any illegal slaughter in the city and its outskirts after the Superintendent of Police, South issued a note last night to check illegal transportation and slaughter of the animals.
If the Maina Curtorim police acted swiftly by rescuing 60 bulls and arresting three persons late last night, the Margao police drafted police personnel to sensitive localities such as Khareband to crack a whip against any illegal slaughter and avert any communal flare up on the festival day. In Colva, the police arrested Riyaz under section 34 of the Indian Police Act after residents complained of an imminent slaughter of bull at Seraulim village.
The Margao police also detained a pick-up van transporting seven bulls at Gogol this morning upon a complaint received from members of a Hindu organization. The tyres of the vehicles were deflated as the driver’s silence raised suspicions on the motive behind the transportation of the cattle. But, police inquiries later revealed that the bulls were being transported outside Davorlim village following an order from the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao while deciding on the bail application of the trio arrested by the Maina Curtorim police late last night.
At Khareband, rumours were agog that a bull was slaughtered illegally in the area, but Margao Police station incharge, PI Santosh Desai rubbished the claim as a mere allegation.
Incidentally, the police action is believed to have upset a prominent Minister in the Digmabar Kamat Cabinet, besides the members of the Muslim community.
Sources informed that the Minister called up the police and demanded to know the basis for attaching the cattle and arresting the three persons. Muslim community members said the police also acted tough on the owners of cattle at Seraulim on Wednesday morning though there was no slaughter.
Herald understands that the police action comes against the backdrop of a complaint lodged by one Vishwas Raikar with the Animal Husbandry department with copies dispatched to the South Goa district Magistrate on the illegal slaughter of cattle near the Davorlim railway gate on the eve of Id.
Sources in the know said the Animal Husbandry department forwarded the complaint to the district Magistrate, South, prompting G P Naik to issue a memo to the concerned authorities to initiate action as per law.
Meanwhile, the JMFC, Margao ordered the release of the 60 bulls rescued from Davorlim railway gate on grounds the owners submits an indemnity bond of Rs 4.5 lakh, with further conditions not to slaughter the cattle and transport them away from Davorlim village.