KANNUR: Police on Sunday registered a case against Youth Congress workers for slaughtering a cow in full public view in Kannur on Saturday.
According to Kannur City Police, a case has been registered under section 120 (A) (cleans furniture, article or vehicle or 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. “We have registered a case against Youth Congress leader Rijil Makkutty and others for causing nuisance and violation of public order,” said an officer.
Earlier Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of BJP, had filed a complaint before police demanding action against the Youth Congress workers involved in the act.
The YC mode of protest against the Centre's decision to ban sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter had invited criticism even from within the Congress.
The slaughter took place in the presence of Youth Congress leaders at Thazhetheru on Saturday evening. After slaughtering the animal in an open vehicle, the Youth Congress workers also distributed the meat free of cost to the public.
However, the mode of protest was later, criticised the senior leaders of the party. In a Facebook post, Pandalam Sudhakaran said the protest by his party's youth wing was inhumane. "Even the animals meant for slaughter deserve justice. Don't we need to show humanity? The mode of protest in Kannur on Saturday was a cold-blooded one," he wrote.
Sudhakaran, however, added that the Centre's decision on cow slaughter was aimed at curtailing the food habits of the people, and there should be strong protest against it.
Meanwhile, organisers said there was nothing wrong with the method chosen to protest. “The Union government has banned the slaughter of cattle. To oppose this we decided to slaughter cattle in public and distribute meat to the people,” said, Youth Congress leader Rijil Makkutty.
The act has since invited wrath from across the political spectrum.
Pandalam Sudhakaran (Cong):
Even the animals meant for slaughter deserve justice. Don’t we need to show humanity? The mode of protest in Kannur was a cold-blooded one.
Rijil Makkutty (Youth Cong):
The Union Government has banned the slaughter of cattle.
To oppose this, we decided to slaughter cattle in public and distribute meat
Kummanam Rajasekharan (BJP):
Cattle slaughtering by Youth Congress in broad daylight...it’s cruelty at its peak.
Mohammed Riyaz (DYFI):
By slaughtering a calf in public, Youth Congress has diverted the protests against the Centre’s ban. It will only help the Sangh Parivar agenda.