Udhampur police arrest 99 bovine smugglers; slap PSA against 4, rescue 618 animals in last 5 months

JAMMU: In a crackdown against bovine smuggling, Udhampur police arrested 99 people, including 95 in bovine smuggling cases and 4 under the Public Safety Act (PSA), and rescued 618 animals in the last five months, police said here on Sunday.“Udhampur police continues its proactive and uncompromising stance against bovine smuggling and, between Jan and May, extensive actions were taken to curb this illegal trade. Around 87 cases were registered, resulting in the rescue of 618 animals being smuggled. In the operations, 70 vehicles used for bovine transportation were seized, and 20 vehicle registration certificates were cancelled,” police said.The Jammu & Kashmir high court imposed a ban on the sale of beef in the erstwhile state (now UT) in Sept 2015, while responding to a PIL seeking slaughter or killing of bovine be made an offence punishable under Section 298-A and possession of such slaughtered animal an act punishable under Section 298-B of the Ranbir Penal Code.