Pickup Truck Carrying Frozen Meat Vandalised Over Beef Suspicion In Silchar

A pickup truck carrying frozen meat, suspected to be beef, was vandalised by members of the Bajrang Dal on Friday evening (August 29) over the Annapurna Ghat Bridge in Silchar. The truck is said to be carrying nearly five thousand kilos of meat.

The Tata Yodha Pickup truck, bearing registration number AS-01-QC-6995 and hailing from Guwahati, entered Silchar from Dolu via Dudhpatil and Annapurna Ghat. It was carrying 50 to 60 cartons of frozen meat. The sealed cartons had packets with each packet weighing 1 kg under the brand name “Giza” with a “Product of India” tag. The truck was reportedly loaded with nearly 5,000 kilograms of frozen meat.

While the packets mentioned “best frozen quality meat,” they did not specify whether the contents were beef. When questioned, the driver reportedly claimed that the consignment was being sold legally.

The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, bans cattle slaughter and the sale of beef in areas where Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs are in the majority, and within a five-kilometre radius of a temple or satra. It also restricts the intra-state transport of cattle.

Following the incident, Cachar Police seized both the consignment and the vehicle and apprehended the driver, who was badly beaten by an enraged public. Officials confirmed that the seized meat will be tested to determine whether it is beef, and a probe will be conducted to verify the legality of the transportation.

A Bajrang Dal member said, “We got information that a truck from Dolau was heading towards Silchar with at least 5,000 kg of beef. One driver escaped while the police caught another. Today we worship Gaumata, and those who slaughter must be punished. Our CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s law states that beef cannot be sold or slaughtered in any Hindu area, but this truck was openly carrying beef. Those behind this racket must face exemplary punishment.”

The Bajrang Dal members further demanded strict action, including police encounters, against alleged beef smugglers.

On the other hand, various reports claim that India is among the world’s major beef-exporting countries.