The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) took decisive action on Thursday, permanently sealing the Jehangirabad slaughterhouse. This move came directly after authorities received a forensic laboratory report confirming that a massive consignment of meat seized earlier was illegal.
Forensic Report Confirms Violation of Cow Slaughter Ban
The chain of events began on December 17, when activists from a Right-wing organization stopped a container truck near the Police Headquarters in the Jehangirabad area. The vehicle, bearing a Uttar Pradesh registration plate, was allegedly loaded with meat from the BMC-operated Jinsi slaughterhouse, destined for other states and possibly overseas markets.
Police immediately confiscated the truck and its contents, which weighed a staggering 26.5 tonnes. Samples were carefully collected by veterinary doctors from the Jehangirabad Veterinary Hospital and sent for expert analysis to the forensic laboratory at the Veterinary College in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
The conclusive report arrived on Wednesday. It confirmed the activists' suspicion: the meat was from a cow or its progeny, the slaughter of which is strictly prohibited under the Madhya Pradesh Cow Slaughter Prohibition Act, 2004.
Police Case Filed and Facility Sealed
Following the forensic confirmation, the Jehangirabad police station swiftly registered a formal case. The First Information Report (FIR) names the slaughterhouse operator, the truck driver, and other individuals involved in the illegal transport.
The case has been filed under Sections 4, 5, and 9 of the Madhya Pradesh Cow Slaughter Prohibition Act, 2004, and also invokes Section 61(2) of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The police investigation revealed a direct link between the seized consignment and the Jinsi slaughterhouse, prompting the civic body to seal the facility immediately.
Investigation Uncovers Night-Time Interception
Police details indicate that the interception occurred late at night on December 17 near the Mahila Thana (women's police station). The activists had tipped off the police, who reached the spot and took possession of the container and the packaged meat.
Further investigation is currently underway to unravel the entire supply chain and identify all parties complicit in the illegal trade. The sealing of the slaughterhouse marks a significant enforcement action in the state's crackdown on prohibited cattle slaughter.
