Guwahati: The Assam Police arrested 133 individuals on Tuesday for allegedly violating the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021.
More than one tonne of suspected beef was seized during raids conducted across the state, according to Inspector General of Police (Law and Order), Akhilesh Kumar Singh.
The operation, initiated suo motu by the police, targeted illegal cattle slaughter and the unauthorised sale of beef in restaurants.
While beef consumption is not illegal in Assam, the Assam Cattle Preservation Act prohibits the slaughter and sale of beef in areas where Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs are in the majority, as well as within a five-kms radius of temples or Vaishnavite monasteries (sattras).
Singh stated that the operation aimed to enforce the law and curb violations.
Police teams raided 112 hotels and restaurants statewide, filing dozens of cases and detaining scores of individuals.
“We have apprehended 133 people so far and seized over one tonne of suspected beef during the raids. The operation is ongoing, and the final figures will be available later. The drive will continue in the coming days,” Singh said.
ALSO READ: Man arrested for killing girlfriend in Meghalaya’s Eastern West Khasi Hills
This intensified enforcement has sparked discussions about the act’s implementation and its broader implications for communities in the state.
Authorities have emphasised that the raids are intended to ensure compliance with existing laws while maintaining communal harmony.
