New Delhi: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at length about anti-social elements donning the role of "gau rakshaks" during the day and committing crimes at night, Delhi Police on Sunday initiated the process of profiling such vigilantes.
At a high-level meeting on Sunday, it was decided to direct policemen on the ground to create a database of miscreants who indulge in violence or incite passions on the pretext of protecting cows. On Saturday, Modi had said: "I appeal to state governments to prepare dossiers on these swayam sevis. Some 7080% will turn out to be engaged in dubious activities."
Delhi Police spokesperson Taj Hasan said: "Any incident of such violence will be dealt with strictly." Sources said areas in outer, northeast district and southwest districts were asked to remain alert in particular.
The PM's remarks, though taken seriously by the police, have angered some others. Navin Kumar, general secretary, Bharatiya Gau Rakhsha Dal, said: "We are deeply saddened. If anyone is using the Gau Rakshak platform to commit criminal activities, it's wrong, but putting everyone in the same bracket is not correct. It's a 5,000-year-old tradition that we are following."
We recommend this video by Venturist.
One "cow protector", requesting anonymity, claimed: "We only find out the places where these animals are brutalised and call the police."
Kumar, on the other hand, admitted that incidents of violence took place when the "other party" resisted.
On February 1, a vigilante group in Wazirabad intercepted two trucks carrying cattle, assaulted the drivers and even attacked the police for delayed response. The group claimed to have information that six trucks would smuggle cows from Punjab to UP via Delhi and set up "barricades" to intercept them.
In October last year, Delhi Police came under severe criticism for conducting a "raid" at Kerala House over rumours that the restaurant was serving beef. The same month, a group of men stopped two trucks carrying cattle in Shahdara, thrashed its drivers and cleaners and even tried to set the trucks afire. The truck drivers were booked on charges of cruelty to animals and their trucks seized. The vigilantes were, however, let off.
At a high-level meeting on Sunday, it was decided to direct policemen on the ground to create a database of miscreants who indulge in violence or incite passions on the pretext of protecting cows. On Saturday, Modi had said: "I appeal to state governments to prepare dossiers on these swayam sevis. Some 7080% will turn out to be engaged in dubious activities."
Delhi Police spokesperson Taj Hasan said: "Any incident of such violence will be dealt with strictly." Sources said areas in outer, northeast district and southwest districts were asked to remain alert in particular.
The PM's remarks, though taken seriously by the police, have angered some others. Navin Kumar, general secretary, Bharatiya Gau Rakhsha Dal, said: "We are deeply saddened. If anyone is using the Gau Rakshak platform to commit criminal activities, it's wrong, but putting everyone in the same bracket is not correct. It's a 5,000-year-old tradition that we are following."
We recommend this video by Venturist.
One "cow protector", requesting anonymity, claimed: "We only find out the places where these animals are brutalised and call the police."
Kumar, on the other hand, admitted that incidents of violence took place when the "other party" resisted.
On February 1, a vigilante group in Wazirabad intercepted two trucks carrying cattle, assaulted the drivers and even attacked the police for delayed response. The group claimed to have information that six trucks would smuggle cows from Punjab to UP via Delhi and set up "barricades" to intercept them.
In October last year, Delhi Police came under severe criticism for conducting a "raid" at Kerala House over rumours that the restaurant was serving beef. The same month, a group of men stopped two trucks carrying cattle in Shahdara, thrashed its drivers and cleaners and even tried to set the trucks afire. The truck drivers were booked on charges of cruelty to animals and their trucks seized. The vigilantes were, however, let off.