3 Accused Of Alleged Cow Slaughter In Bulandshahr Case Charged Under National Security Act

The three people who were arrested in the Bulandshahr case for alleged cow slaughter are now charged under the National Security Act (NSA), claimed the officials probing the case. The incident of alleged cow slaughter took place last year in December in which two people including a police officer and a youth were killed after clashes erupted in Shyana area of Bulandshahr district in Uttar Pradesh. Till now 35 people have been booked in the case including the main accused Yogesh Raj, a Bajrang Dal activist who was dubbed as “Accused no 1” in the killing of the police officer.

Charged under NSA

In December last year, an FIR was registered against seven people including two minors for their alleged involvement in cow slaughter. Later the Special Investigation Team (SIT) gave a clean chit to four people involved in the case claiming that the four were deliberately framed in the case over “personal enmity”.

Now, in a new development, the Uttar Pradesh police have charged the three remaining people under NSA. According to the NDTV, the District Magistrate Anuj Jha has confirmed that the accused identified as Ajhar, Nadimuddin, and Mehbooba Ali were charged under NSA.

“The three had applied for bail, which we could not allow. Keeping this in mind, we charged them under the National Security Act,” said the officer.

Talking to the Hindustan Times, a district administration official, on the condition of anonymity told the publication that the police feared the perpetrators could slaughter more cows. The officer said that it would likely disrupt law and order, peace and communal harmony in the area, and which is why the police have decided to book the accused under NSA.

‘Will challenge the action’

The advocate, Afaq Ahmad, who is representing the three accused in the court said that the three accused had been falsely implicated in the cow slaughter case. He added, “I have not received a copy of NSA against them. If it is true, we will challenge the decision.”

This is not the first time when the Uttar Pradesh police have charged people under NSA in alleged cases of cow slaughter. In 2017, Sambhal police had invoked NSA against the three accused, who were reportedly, involved in cow slaughter.

What is the NSA?

The National Security Act (NSA) of 1980 is an act of the Indian Parliament which was brought to action on September 23, 1980. It is meant to provide for preventive detention in certain cases and for matters connected therewith. This act extends to all over India, apart from the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It contains 18 sections and empowers the Central and state governments to detain a person to prevent him/her from acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of India, the relation of India with foreign countries and the maintenance of public order. This act was passed during the then Charan Singh Government. NSA provides the officials with an unambiguous power to detain any accused for at least one year without providing any chargesheet in court.

What happened that day?

On December 3, the incident took place when a few people started to protest in the area after they found the alleged carcass of a cow in the field, said the District Magistrate to The Indian Express. Allegedly, the mob was also protesting against illegal slaughterhouses. The protestors had blocked the roads in the area. Following this, the police were informed about the incident. When the police reached the spot to get the roads opened, some unknown people started pelting stones at the at the police.

The inspector, Subodh was again attacked while he was being taken to the hospital. The inspector died before he could have been treated. The Cop is survived by his wife and a son, UP CM had announced a compensation of Rs 50 Lakhs to the family. A compensation of Rs. 40 lakh has been announced for the wife and a sum of Rs. 10 lakh for the inspector’s parents. It has also been announced that a government job for one member of the family of Police Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh would be provided. There are two separate cases that are going on. One is for the killing of Uttar Pradesh’s inspector Kumar and another is for alleged cow slaughter.
Also Read: Yogesh Raj, Bajrang Dal Leader And ‘Main Accused’ In Bulandshahr Violence, Arrested