Three convicted to life imprisonment in Gujarat cow slaughter case

A court in Gujarat's Gandhinagar district sentenced three persons to life imprisonment in a cow slaughter case after finding them in possession of 277 kg of beef.

The Ruling And Scripture

Additional Sessions Judge BR Rajput delivered the judgment on October 26, imposing a fine of ₹3 lakh on each of the convicts, identified as Vasim Qureshi, Mohammad Rafiq Qureshi, and Asfaq Bahelim. In the ruling, the court cited ancient Sanskrit texts including the Manusmriti and the Vedas to emphasize the religious significance of the cow, describing it as a pillar of material prosperity and righteousness. The prosecution presented 54 witnesses and 18 pieces of documentary evidence during the trial. According to the investigation, six persons were initially arrested following a raid on a house in Jamla village of Gandhinagar district on August 22, 2024, where officers recovered the beef, weapons used for slaughter, and a transport vehicle.

Reactions And Law

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi praised the verdict, stating that the law will never spare individuals who commit cow slaughter in the State and congratulating the police and prosecution for their investigation. Through an amendment to the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act in 2017, the State government enhanced the punishment for cow slaughter to life imprisonment, making it the first State in the country to introduce such a sentence.

Context

State animal preservation laws in various parts of India regulate the slaughter and transport of cattle with varying degrees of strictness. Gujarat has progressively tightened its legal framework regarding cattle protection over recent decades through legislative amendments.