Three persons have been arrested for cow slaughter in Madhya Pradesh and charged under the National Security Act or NSA, a tough law used to detain suspects who threaten the country's security. This is the first incident after Congress government came to power in the state in which the police have charged the accused in cow slaughter under the NSA.
The police had got information on Friday that a cow was slaughtered near Moghat in Khandwa.
"When our team reached the spot around 1.30 am, we found the cow carcass, but the accused managed to escape. Two of them, Nadeem and Shakeel, were arrested the same day, while the third accused, Azam, was taken into custody on Monday," Khandwa Superintendent of Police Siddharth Bahuguna said.
Mr Bahugana said Khandwa is a communally sensitive area, hence the accused have been charged under the NSA. The accused have also been booked under relevant sections of the Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act.
While Nadeem and Shakeel are brothers, Azam is a resident of Kharkhali village. Nadeem and Shakeel are butchers, Azam is a farmer who also does odd jobs.
Nadeem is a repeat offender and has a record of involvement in cow slaughter, the officer added. A case was filed against him in 2017 but he got bail the next year.
The National Security Act empowers the government to detain people for up to a year if they suspect that they could disrupt public order, endanger the security of India or its ties with foreign countries.
Haryana Cops To Impose National Security Act Against Protesting Farmers UP-Based Cow Slaughter Gang Busted, 3 Arrested In Delhi: Cops "Not Against Christians But Oppose Cow Slaughtering, Conversion": Chhattisgarh's Vishnu Sai 2 French Rafale Jets Collide Mid-Air, Instructor, Pilot Missing Tear Gas Fired After Kolkata Protest Against Doctor's Rape-Murder Turns Violent "Pivotal Moment": Key Doctor Body Resumes Strike 2 Days After Calling It Off Rahul Gandhi's Seat At Red Fort Triggers Fresh Congress Attack On BJP Monkeypox Virus Killed 548 People In This Nation Since Start Of 2024 Tiger Attacks 5 After Escaping From Rajasthan's Sariska Tiger Reserve Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.