Shimla/Dehradun, April 1: In a swift and coordinated action, the Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand police forces busted an illegal cattle slaughter racket operating along the border of the two states.
Within 24 hours of discovering cattle remains along the Dhali Pur River on March 31, a total of 10 accused were apprehended from different locations in a joint operation, exposing a larger network of illegal activities that had been thriving in the region.
The discovery of slaughtered cattle remains triggered tensions in the border areas, forcing authorities to act swiftly.
The protests erupted in Paonta Sahib and other places in connection with the case.
The operation, led by SP Sirmaur Nishchint Negi and SSP Dehradun Ajai Singh, IPS, saw the filing of two FIRs—one at Vikasnagar Police Station, Uttarakhand (FIR No. 114/2025), and another at Puruwala Police Station, District Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh (FIR No. 59/2025).
The cases have been registered under the Uttarakhand Gauvansh Sanrakshan Adhiniyam, 2007, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Prevention of Cattle Slaughter Act, 1979.
A Well-Coordinated Crackdown
Based on intelligence inputs and CCTV surveillance, the Uttarakhand Police nabbed eight suspects from the Sahaspur region, while the Himachal Pradesh Police apprehended two individuals from the Puruwala area. The arrested individuals include:
Arrested from Uttarakhand:
1. Naushad (30), son of Islam, resident of Kushalpur, Sahaspur
2. Gulbahar (38), son of Shamsher, resident of Kushalpur, Sahaspur
3. Naushad (35), son of Ikhlaq, resident of Kushalpur, Sahaspur
4. Musharraf alias Kala (50), son of Akhtar, resident of Kushalpur, Sahaspur
5. Sameer (19), son of Dilbahar, resident of Kushalpur, Sahaspur
6. Shahrukh (26), son of Ikhlaq, resident of Kushalpur, Sahaspur
7. Sadiq (20), son of Jabbar, resident of Kushalpur, Sahaspur
8. Tauseef (21), son of Ikhlaq, resident of Kushalpur, Sahaspur
Arrested from Himachal Pradesh:
9. Shahnawaz (40), resident of Manpur Dewra, Tehsil Paonta Sahib, District Sirmaur
10. Irshad (60), son of Kamrudeen, resident of Manpur Dewra, Tehsil Paonta Sahib, District Sirmaur
A Systemic Problem?
The incident raises concerns about the prevalence of illegal cattle slaughter activities and the lack of strict monitoring in the border areas.
Local residents have long been complaining about unregulated cattle smuggling, which often goes unchecked due to lax surveillance and alleged political and administrative negligence.
The involvement of multiple accused from the same locality in Sahaspur indicates a well-organized racket that has been operating under the radar for an extended period.
This also raises questions about how such activities continued despite existing legal provisions prohibiting cattle slaughter in both states.
Police Response and Future Measures
In response to the incident, both Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand police forces have announced an increase in border patrolling and the installation of additional CCTV cameras in sensitive areas. Regular joint operations have also been planned to curb such activities in the future.
While law enforcement agencies have acted swiftly this time, critics argue that a more robust, proactive approach is needed rather than reacting after tensions escalate.
With religious and communal sensitivities often at play in such incidents, failure to effectively address illegal cattle slaughter can lead to further social unrest.
The latest arrests have provided a glimpse into the underground operations of illegal cattle slaughter, but whether this is merely the tip of the iceberg remains to be seen.
The onus is now on authorities to ensure that this crackdown is not just another temporary measure but a stepping stone towards stricter enforcement of laws and sustained vigilance in the region.
