In a recent turn of events, a large-scale Beef Mandi operation in Alwar, Rajasthan, was exposed, prompting swift action from the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led BJP state government on February 19. The crackdown saw the attachment of the entire concerned police station to the police line and the suspension of four policemen in connection to the illicit Beef Mandi.
The illicit activities came to light following an investigative report by Dainik Bhaskar journalists Rajkumar Jain and Radheshyam. Their ground-breaking expose revealed shocking details of the operation, prompting Jaipur Range Inspector General Umesh Chandra Dutt to personally investigate the matter. Reports suggest that approximately 600 cows were being slaughtered monthly in the Beef Mandi, with operations extending to home deliveries in over 50 villages through a WhatsApp group, servicing about 300 shops.
According to sources, the Beef Mandi was conducting approximately 20 cow slaughters daily for home delivery, allegedly with the complicity of local law enforcement. When police raided the premises after the media expose, the suspected cattle smugglers fled, leaving behind confiscated vehicles and the remains of slaughtered cows.
The illegal Beef Mandi, situated in the Baas police station area of Alwar, was revealed through harrowing videos depicting merciless slaughtering and skinning of cows in the forests of Gidvada near Rundh, near Birasangpur. Orders for beef were reportedly facilitated through WhatsApp, attracting hundreds of buyers to the sprawling 10-kilometer Mandi.
Despite prior knowledge of the illicit activities, police inaction was alleged until the issue was brought to the attention of the Bhajan Lal government. Under the leadership of IG Umesh Chandra Datt, raids were conducted in the forests of the Baas area, confirming the authenticity of the claims. Subsequently, Head Constable Raghuvir, ASI Gyan Chand, Beat Constable Swam Prakash, and Ravikant were suspended, along with Station House Officer Dinesh Meena and 38 staff of the Baas police station.
Reports also suggest that the illegal beef trade extended beyond the Mandi, with allegations of beef biryani being sold in a 60-kilometer radius around Alwar. The illicit trade was estimated to generate up to 4 lakh rupees monthly from the sale of cow meat, bones, and hides.
Currently, efforts are underway to identify the operators of the beef mandi, with stringent action being taken against them. So far, 25 individuals have been named in the FIR related to cow slaughter, and a dozen motorcycles along with a pickup jeep found at the beef market have been seized and impounded.
