Activist demands portable beef detection kits for cops before Bakri Eid

Fearing cow vigilantism, a city-based activist has sent a letter to the Chief Minister's office demanding that portable beef detection kits be provided to the city police before Bakri Eid. Irfan Machiwala said in his letter that the kits will be handy for the police to avoid mob policing.

On Wednesday evening, residents of Juhu, Mahim, Santacruz and Khar Danda met BJP Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar at his Bandra Reclamation residence, where they asked Shelar to request the Chief Minister to ensure that the portable kits are supplied to the police before Bakri Eid.

According to the letter, the state government should immediately arrange for portable kits to test meat samples on the spot, which will help the police to ascertain if the meat is goat meat or beef.

As the festival is close, many people will be carrying goat meat in vehicles, and not beef, to distribute it to their relatives. However, cow vigilantes will not verify it and they might end up attacking the people only over suspicion, the letter states.

It adds, "Violence in the name of cow protection has been on the rise. Several lives have been lost as the cow vigilantes have assaulted people for carrying or eating meat, on the suspicion that it may be beef. During Eid, it is sure that violent cow vigilantes will harass people. The kit will help the police to determine if the sample contains beef or not on the spot, police need not make arrests or seizures on mere suspicion."