The Mira Bhayandar-Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police have seized a banned consignment of “suspected” beef (cow meat) worth around Rs.3.84 lakh by intercepting a tempo on the highway in Kashimira late on Monday night.
The action followed in response to a tip-off provided by cow vigilante-Rupesh Dubey and his colleagues that a tempo carrying cow meat was on its way to Malwani area in Malad.
The police team accompanied by the cow vigilantes laid a trap and intercepted a light commercial vehicle (LCV) opposite Hotel Delhi Darbar located on the highway in Kashimira at around 11 pm. Upon checking, the team found gunny bags stuffed with 1,600 kilograms (Rs.240 per kg) animal meat covered with tarpaulin sheets. The driver-Rehan Shakeel Shaikh (19) and cleaner-Prashant Ankush Barde (19) were immediately arrested and the meat-laden tempo was seized.
Investigations revealed that the tempo which had originated from Sangamner was headed for delivery to Malwani in Malad. Investigating officer-PSI Sachin Shedge has written a letter to the veterinary officer in the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) requesting extraction of samples from the seized meat for sending it for testing and to determine which animal had been slaughtered.
An offence under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and provisions of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976 which prohibits slaughter of cows, bulls, and bullocks was registered at the Kashigaon police station against five people including the arrested driver, cleaner and three other men identified as-Faisal Shaikh (supplier), Vakeel Qureshi and Pappu Atik Qureshi (both potential buyers). Further investigations were on.
