11 houses raided in India over allegations of beef possession

Police in Madhya Pradesh, India, have raided 11 houses for allegedly engaging in illegal beef trade. These houses were constructed on government land.

A police officer from Mandla district informed Indian media outlet NDTV on Saturday (June 15) about this development.

Rajat Saklecha, Mandla's police superintendent, told Press Trust of India (PTI), "A substantial number of cattle have been seized for allegedly being kept for slaughter in the Veinsowaahi area of Nainpur after receiving information."

Saklecha claimed that after receiving the information, a team from the law enforcement agency went on a raid. They found around 150 cattle tied up in these houses.

Additionally, he accused the suspects of retrieving beef from the freezer of their houses. He said, "They had beef fat, hides, and bones there. These were kept in a small room."

The police superintendent further added, "The seized meat has been confirmed by local government veterinarians. We have also sent samples for secondary DNA analysis to Hyderabad. As these 11 houses were built on government land, they have been demolished."

He also revealed, "After recovering cattle and beef from Mandla, an FIR was lodged at the police station on Friday night. One person has been arrested. A campaign is underway to arrest the remaining suspects."

Saklecha mentioned, "The 150 recovered cattle have been sent to a shelter for livestock. The Veinsowaahi area has recently become a center for cattle theft. Madhya Pradesh imposes a seven-year imprisonment for cattle slaughter."

Multiple sources within the state police mentioned, "The records of two accused have been collected regarding past crimes. Records of others are also being compiled." The police officers confirmed that all the accused are Muslims