Five people, including Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) member Yusuf Shaikh, who were arrested on Sunday morning for allegedly killing three cows at a slaughter house owned by Shaikh in Ambernath, are set to be produced in a court today.
Assistant Commissioner of Police DM Jagtap confirmed that three samples collected by the police during their arrest were sent to Kalina forensic lab. The suspects were arrested by the police after they received a tip-off from some residents of Ambernath at 5.30 a.m. Upon reaching the scene, the police found three dead cows and rescued two calves, which were then transported to a gaushala in Ulhasnagar.
"They killed a cow. There were two other dead animals. We could not determine whether they were cows or buffaloes. The animals had been slaughtered," Balkrishna Wagh, the inspector attached to Ambernath Police Station, was quoted as saying by the Hindu.
The five accused, identified as Shafi Ibrahim Quereshi, 40, Riyaz Mohammed Shaikh, 38, Azad Nizamuddin Quereshi, 26, Sajjad Nizamuddin Quereshi, 33, and Yusuf Kashif Shaikh, 45, have allegedly been carrying out the activity for the past few months. The accused were booked under Section 429, 34, of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act 1995.
"We will produce the accused in court and will investigate the matter once they are remanded in our custody. The family members of the accused say they were not aware of any such activities," a police officer at Ambernath police station was quoted as saying. Police also denied reports that they were accompanied by Bajrang Dal activists. "There were no political people with us," the police said.
Reacting to the news, MNS leader Raju Patil said that Shaikh, who had held the position of the vice president of the party's Ambernath unit, does not hold the post any longer.
However, police are yet to crack some important questions surrounding the case, such as where the cattle was bought, who are the purchasers, and how much did they pay for it.
