Karnataka minister orders cops to kick, jail cow vigilantes ahead of Bakrid

With a little more than a week left for Eid-ul-Adha or Bakri-eid, Karnataka Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology Priyank Kharge has asked police officials to take strict action against people involved in cow vigilantism.

Bakrid is celebrated by the Muslim community globally and the distribution of meat among relatives and chanting the takbir are some of the most important practices on the day.

Keeping this in mind, Kharge, during a meeting with police officials, issued an indirect threat to members of the Bajrang Dal and said, “Those who wear shawls, take the law into their own hands and say they are from these dals, kick them and put them



behind bars.”

“If there's anyone who's a self-proclaimed leader and who spews venom in the name of communal issues, then action should be taken against them. I don't want unnecessary communal riots,” he added during a meeting in Kalaburgi.

“The law is very clear on transportation of livestock. Be it within city limits or rural areas. If they have the right documents, don’t harass them,” the minister told police officials.

A few months ago, a cattle trader, Idrees Pasha, was allegedly murdered by a Hindutva extremist, Puneeth Kerehalli, in Ramanagara, he said. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah gave his family Rs 25 lakh as compensation.