A COURT in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar district has sentenced three persons to life imprisonment in a cow slaughter case after they were found in possession of 277 kg of beef, citing Hindu scriptures to underscore the religious significance of the cow. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi hailed the verdict, calling it a clear message that the law will never spare those who commit cow slaughter in the State. In his judgment on Monday, Additional Sessions Judge B R Rajput also imposed a fine of Rs 3 lakh on the convicts, Vasim Qureshi, Mohammad Rafiq Qureshi, and Asfaq Bahelim. Quoting the Manusmriti, an ancient Sanskrit text, the court observed that the cow is not merely an animal but is regarded as a pillar of material prosperity and ‘dharma’ (righteousness).

 

“Sage Manu entrusted the primary responsibility for the protection and care of cattle to the ‘Vaishya’ class. Furthermore, in the context of ‘Arsha Vivaha’ (a traditional form of Vedic marriage), the pair -- a cow and a bull -- holds special significance,” the judge said. Further quoting the Vedas, the court said that when drops of ‘amrita’ (nectar) fell to the earth through the power of penance, the divine cow Kamadhenu emerged and came to be regarded as the progenitor of all bovine species on earth. “The cow is regarded as the ‘mother of the world’, serving as an abode for 33 crore deities. Her four legs are symbolic of the four Vedas, the court said. Six persons were arrested with 277 kg of beef and weapons allegedly used to slaughter cows and buffaloes and a vehicle meant to transport the meat after a raid on a house in Jamla village of Gandhinagar district on August 22, 2024.

 

The prosecution said a father-son duo would purchase weak or non-lactating cows and buffaloes. They would then bring four individuals from Ahmedabad to their home and have the animals slaughtered in a cruel manner for beef, all for the sake of financial gain. Citing the investigation, the prosecution said the accused intended to sell the beef to one Ghulam Moin. After the trial, the court found three of the six men guilty. The prosecution produced 54 witnesses and 18 pieces of documentary evidence to establish the charges.