Indian police gather Cow mug-shots for ID

Indian police are now required to enforce the task of protecting the  cattle from slaughter, state a register of each cow  and bullock with mug shots.

Police in Maelgon in West Maharashtra Indian state have requested cattle owners to submit photographs of their livestock to help them enforce a new ban on selling beef. Photos are needed to help them to investigate any criminal cases under the recently introduced law, which bans the slaughter of all cows and sale and consumption of their meat. After 19 years, The Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act came into force on 2 March. “We are keeping the photographs for verification purposes only,” according to Mahesh Sawai police officer. “If someone alleges that some illegal activity has taken place and if the owner has a photo, it will be easy to establish the truth.”

Recently three people were charged locally for selling beef, the first case under the new law. While the slaughter of cows was banned in Maharashtra state in 1976, the new law bans also the slaughter of bulls and bullocks as well although Beef from buffalo is still legal. Those convicted could face a fine of £100  Rs 10,000 and upto five years in prison.

 

In 2002, when the five year census of livestock in India was taken it revealed over 21m animals in Maharashtra state alone, compared to a human population of around 112m.

The sale and consumption of beef is restricted in many Indian states including Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party believe cows need greater protection. India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh Monday hinted at the possibility of trying to bring in a nationwide ban of cow slaughter.

India is the world’s second-largest beef exporter after Brazil and the fifth biggest consumer of the meat.