In a significant crackdown, Rajasthan police have dismantled an illicit beef market operating in Kishangarh Bas, Khairtal-Tijara District, following a coordinated raid based on intelligence gleaned from a media report and information provided by a confidential informant.
The operation, spearheaded by DSP Dinesh Kumar and his team, unfolded on February 18, prompted by alarming reports of unlawful cattle slaughter and beef trade flourishing on encroached forest land in Barsangpur and Mirjapur.
A subsequent FIR, lodged on February 19, implicated 22 individuals, including Rati Khan, Sahun, Mosam, Harun, Ibbar, Alim, Aslam, Kamil, Saddam, Khalid, Fakru, Mormal, Sahun, Kayyum, Aslam (s/o Boda), Khalli, Rahish, Salim, Mannan, Khalid (s/o Chava), Kasam, and Habbi, all residents of the affected area.
According to the FIR, the police, acting on the intelligence, arrived at the scene around 5:40 PM, where they discovered four cows tethered to small trees amidst a group of approximately 18-19 individuals. Upon spotting the approaching authorities, the suspects absconded, evading capture despite pursuit efforts by the police team, hampered by the lack of proper roads in the vicinity.
An inspection of the scene revealed distressing signs of animal cruelty, with one cow found with injuries inflicted by a tight rope around its neck, and another displaying wounds with visible blood clots on its back. Regrettably, the carcass of another animal was also discovered nearby, indicative of prior instances of cattle theft and slaughter. Despite thorough search efforts, no additional live cattle were found, although remains of deceased animals were recovered from three distinct locations, serving as crucial evidentiary material.
Subsequent inquiries with local residents corroborated suspicions of longstanding involvement by the FIR-listed individuals in illicit cattle theft and slaughter operations, with the profits from the clandestine beef trade purportedly extending to neighboring villages.
In light of the distressing findings, the living cattle rescued from the scene were relocated to the safety of Shri Krishna Gaushala in Bambora, while the deceased animals’ carcasses were transferred to a veterinary hospital for further forensic examination, given the inability of local veterinary personnel to conduct post-mortem procedures at the scene.
The raid underscores the persistent challenges posed by illegal animal slaughter and the urgent need for concerted law enforcement efforts to curb such criminal activities, safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable livestock and upholding legal provisions governing cattle protection and welfare.
In a startling revelation, Dainik Bhaskar’s report exposed the existence of an illegal beef market nestled within the remote wilderness of Kundhagadhbara, straddling the border of Alwar and the newly formed Khairthal-Tijara districts. The clandestine operation, initially operating under the jurisdiction of Alwar district pending administrative reorganisation, is reported to have facilitated the slaughter of approximately 600 cows monthly, underscoring the scale of illicit activities permeating the region.
According to media sources, the illicit enterprise extended its reach beyond the confines of the beef market, offering home delivery services through a WhatsApp group servicing over 50 villages and supplying beef to approximately 300 shops across the area. In response to mounting public outrage and media scrutiny, the concerned authorities took decisive action, with the entire police station assigned to the case and four policemen suspended pending further investigation.
The crackdown on the illegal beef market culminated in a concerted anti-encroachment drive, resulting in the clearance of approximately 500 acres of encroached land, signalling a resolute stance against unlawful activities encroaching upon public and environmental domains.
The illegal beef market, situated within the Baas police station area of Alwar, was exposed through harrowing visuals depicting the callous slaughter and skinning of cows in the forested expanses of Gidvada near Rundh, adjacent to Birasangpur. Orders for beef were reportedly facilitated through WhatsApp channels, drawing hundreds of buyers to the sprawling 10-kilometre market, which operated with impunity for an undisclosed period.
Criticism was levelled at authorities for purported inaction despite prior knowledge of the nefarious activities, prompting intervention under the leadership of IG Umesh Chandra Datt. Raids conducted in the forests of the Baas area validated the veracity of the allegations, resulting in the suspension of Head Constable Raghuvir, ASI Gyan Chand, Beat Constable Swam Prakash, and Ravikant, along with Station House Officer Dinesh Meena and 38 staff members of the Baas police station.
Further revelations suggest the scope of the illegal beef trade extended beyond the confines of the market, with allegations of beef biryani being peddled within a 60-kilometre radius around Alwar. The clandestine enterprise, estimated to yield up to 4 lakh rupees monthly from the sale of cow meat, bones, and hides, underscores the systemic challenges confronting law enforcement agencies in combatting organised crime networks.
Efforts are currently underway to identify and apprehend the masterminds behind the illicit beef market, with stringent measures enacted to curb the proliferation of such illicit enterprises. To date, 25 individuals have been implicated in the FIR related to cow slaughter, with a dozen motorcycles and a pickup jeep seized and impounded as part of ongoing investigations.
