Ten members of a Mewat gang have been sent to 10 years in jail by a Delhi court for lifting and slaughtering cows and attacking policemen who tried to arrest them four years ago.
While handing down the sentence, the court took a swipe at the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), observing that the lifters have "cleared the city of cattle" which the civic body could not do for years but at a heavy cost.
Terming cattle as national wealth, the court wondered whether it is not hypocrisy that people go hunting around the city for cows when it comes to issues relating to "fulfilling personal religious beliefs and obligations but turn a blind eye without thought when it comes to seriously evolving a national policy" to preserve cattle wealth.
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It said the aspect of protection of cattle is closely integrated to issues relating to "health and economy of the country whilst leaving these poor animals at the mercy of these ruthless butchers".
"I am pained to observe that what Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) could not do for years together, these Mewati gangs of cattle lifters/ slaughterers have done i.E. '.... clear the city of cattle' ... But it has come at a heavy cost.
"... I can only hope that some serious deliberated action is undertaken on these aspects which apparently require immediate attention of those who are at the helm of affairs," Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau said.
The court sentenced Asif, Bholu, Kailash, Rizwan, Wasim, Sita Ram, Gulfam, Siraz, Sahbuddin and Rajesh to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for offences including attempting to murder cops, obstructing public servants in discharge of their duties, firing at them, killing three cows with malicious intention of outraging religious feelings.
They were also convicted under the provisions of Delhi Agriculture Cattle Preservation Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
One accused Yakub died during the trial while Khalid and Salim were declared proclaimed offenders by the court.
According to the prosecution on May 14, 2010 at about 4:45 AM at Mundka Road near village Rani Khera here, all the 13 accused in furtherance to their common intention obstructed policemen from discharging their duties and used criminal force on them by firing at them. The accused pelted stones on police party.
