KANNUR: Police have arrested eight Youth Congress activists, including Rijil Makkutty, its suspended Kannur parliamentary constituency president, for slaughtering a calf in full public view in Kannur town in protest against the Centre's notification banning sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter.
The Kannur City Police initially registered a case against the Youth Congress workers under section 120 (A) (slaughters any animal or cleans any carcass or grooms any animal in a public place causing annoyance or inconvenience to the public) of Kerala Police Act. However investigators later added section 428 (Mischief by killing or maiming animal) of Indian Penal Code. The case was registered based on a complaint filed by a local leader of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP.
The arrested were later released on bail. The slaughter of a one-and-a-half year old calf took place in the presence of state and district Youth Congress leaders at Thazhetheru last Saturday. After slaughtering the animal in an open vehicle, the Youth Congress workers also distributed the meat free of cost to the public.
The mode of protest employed by the Youth Congress workers in Kerala led to widespread condemnation, including from within the Congress. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi termed the incident "thoughtless and barbaric" and said it was "unacceptable" to him and the party. Three leaders including Rijil Makkutty, State general secretary Joshi Kandathil and local Youth Congress leader Sharafuddin have since been suspended by the Youth Congress national leadership.