Gujarat court gives life term to 3 for cow slaughter, cites Manusmriti

A Kalol court in Gandhinagar district, Gujarat, has sentenced three men to rigorous life imprisonment for the slaughter of a cow. Additional Sessions Judge BR Rajput delivered the verdict on Monday, issuing a 76-page judgment that explicitly cites the Manusmriti, the Vedas, and other Hindu scriptures. The court stated that failing to punish such acts according to the law would lead to the extinction of cows. The accused, identified as Wasim Kureshi, Mohammad Rafiq Kureshi, and Asfak Bahelim, were found guilty under the Gujarat Animal Preservation Amendment Act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Each man received a fine of 3 lakh rupees in addition to the life sentence. The incident occurred on August 22, 2024, at a house in Jamla village. Police recovered 277 kilograms of meat following the alleged slaughter. According to the court, the three men purchased old or non-milking cattle at low prices and slaughtered them for commercial purposes. Law enforcement officers apprehended the trio while they were arranging to sell the meat. The judge noted that the defendants were fully aware of the legal and religious status of the animal yet proceeded with the killing. The judgment provides extensive theological reasoning for the severity of the punishment. In the opening pages, the court described the cow as revered as the mother of the universe, believing that 33 crore deities reside within it. The four legs of the cow are interpreted as symbols of the four Vedas. The ruling references the Manusmriti, which treats the cow not merely as an animal but as a pillar of religious duty. Sage Manu is cited as having assigned the primary responsibility for protecting cattle to the Vaishya class. Additionally, the court highlighted the significance of the cow and bull in Arsha Vivaha, a traditional form of Vedic marriage. Further scriptural references include the story of Surabhi, also known as Kamadhenu, who emerged from drops of divine nectar falling to earth through Brahma’s penance. She is regarded as the mother of all cattle. The Rigveda’s description of the cow as Adhanya, meaning one that should not be killed, was also included in the order. The Harivamsha Purana and other traditions describing the cow as sacred were cited to reinforce the sanctity of the animal. The judge argued that the accused cut off the mouths, stomachs, legs, and hides of the cows with extreme cruelty. Gujarat’s legal framework regarding cattle protection has evolved significantly over the past decade. The state amended the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, originally passed in 1954, in 2011 under Chief Minister Narendra Modi. This amendment imposed a complete ban on cow slaughter and prohibited the sale, purchase, and transportation of beef. The law was further tightened in 2017, making Gujarat the first Indian state to prescribe life imprisonment for cow slaughter. Offences involving the possession, sale, storage, or transportation of beef carry penalties of seven to ten years’ imprisonment and fines ranging from 1 lakh to 5 lakh rupees. These specific offences are classified as non-bailable. Separately, tensions related to livestock transport surfaced in Madhya Pradesh. In Damoh district, a group of alleged members of Hindutva outfits assaulted two Muslim men and a van driver transporting buffaloes. The group stopped the traders, alleging theft. Videos showed the mob tying up the traders, dragging them through a field, and beating them with sticks. Unidentified persons have been booked for the assault. Superintendent of Police Anand Kaladagi stated that some accused were identified via video evidence. He added that the traders were also booked because the animals were being transported in poor conditions inside a small van. Efforts to arrest the remaining suspects are ongoing.