Bombay HC Issues Notice To M’rashtra Govt, Police On Protection Against Cow Vigilantes Ahead Of Bakr-Eid

The Bombay High Court has issued notices to the Maharashtra government and the state police in a public interest litigation seeking measures to ensure protection against cow vigilantes ahead of Bakr-Eid.

A bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice MS Karnik has made notices returnable in two weeks’ time.

As reported earlier, the PIL sought 24-hour helpline for the “protection of life of citizens for trade and transport” so that innocent people are not killed in the name of religion by cow vigilantes ahead of Bakr-Eid.

The petitioner sought directions to the state and its police to collect all information regarding cow vigilante groups in Maharashtra and steps to ensure safety and protection of innocent citizens from cow vigilantes.

Various incidents of mob violence across the country in the name of cow have been detailed in the PIL.

It is stated that according to the petitioner’s own research, 23 people died due to such incidents since 2014.

The PIL sought peaceful implementation of the Supreme Court order “suspending Centre’s notification banning sale and purchase of cattle at animal markets for slaughter” and that the respondents should provide gun licence to all those people transporting cattle legally, so that they can protect themselves from cow vigilantes.