The recent death of Umar Khan has once again trained the gun on cow vigilantes. But DNA, in its investigation, has found that even inter-gang rivalry of bovine smugglers may lead to such bloody encounters
It’s nothing new. The porous border of Alwar is known for illegal cow trafficking for years. But lethal attacks on ‘cow smugglers’ are a new phenomena. The recent killing of 35-year-old Umar Khan is just part of an episode which has come into being after 2014 - the year BJP came into power at centre. According to police sources, before 2014, less than 30 cases of cow smuggling would come to light. “But since 2014, every year, more than 100 cases are being registered for bovine smuggling besides sporadic cases of deadly attacks on alleged smugglers. The infamous killing of dairy farmer Pehlu Khan, 6 months ago, was one of those cases only,” said a senior police official.
Human Rights Watch has also reported that there has been a surge in cow vigilante violence since 2015. The Supreme Court in September 2017 has ruled that each state should appoint a police officer in each district as a nodal officer to take strict action against cow vigilantism.
Mewat - The Hot Bed
It’s not that the Mewat region - comprising Alwar and Bharatpur districts - has maximum number of cows in the state. But then it is hub of illegal trade of cows and other bovine progenies. Animals from across the state are transported to Alwar and Bharatpur - which are gateways to the National Capital region - the largest mandi of slaughterhouses. The unique population composition of these two districts help the trade. Meo tribes people and nomadic tribes like Banjaras and Nats are castes known to be deeply involved in trafficking cattle. Bovines including cows that have stopped giving milk sold to slaughterhouses for Rs 20,000-25,000 as along with the meat, the skin fetches high returns. The thriving leather industry in Delhi NCR, Kanpur and Agra is the biggest attraction for these smugglers to take the bait.
“The modus operandi is simple. Village panchayat members help smugglers by issuing fake certificates that say that the cattle are being sent for use in dairy initiatives if smugglers prefer to play it safe. Otherwise they camouflage the carrier and try their luck to sneak past the border,” said an official.
Don’t Blame Cow Vigilantes always
Earlier this practice was common and successful. Natives of Mewat indulged in this activity would earn lakhs from this illegal trade worth 100 of crores. But BJP governments, both at centre and state, have led to sudden spring of self proclaimed cow vigilante groups who are getting more active than the police of this region. As per an estimate, there are more than 50,000 gau rakshaks in the state who keep exchanging information about cattle smuggling incidents.
“You can’t always blame cow vigilantes for the attacks. There are several ‘smuggler gangs’ in this region. Inter gang rivalries lead to such incidents. There have been cases where a gang loots truck load of bovines from the other after ‘gangwar’,” said a police official.
Law bans Cow slaughter in State
The prevalence of cow smuggling in Rajasthan is also because of an ACT which bans cow slaughter in the state. In 1995, the state government had prohibited cow slaughtering by passing the Rajasthan Bovine Animal (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Act.
“Since unproductive and abandoned cows can’t be killed in the state. They have to be transported outside the state for the kill. Smugglers and peddlers then come into play,” said a senior official of home department.
STRICT ACTION
- The Supreme Court in September 2017 has ruled that each state should appoint a police officer in each district as a nodal officer to take strict action against cow vigilantism.
- Human Rights Watch has also reported that there has been a surge in cow vigilante violence since 2015.
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