Police in Maharashtra’s Jalna district have arrested three men after a video of an alleged cow slaughter triggered communal tension in the area, officials said on Sunday.
Superintendent of Police Ajaykumar Bansal confirmed that the main accused, Aslam Qureshi, along with Sufiyan Qureshi and Yaseen Qureshi, were taken into custody. A case has been registered under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act and for outraging religious sentiments.
The controversy began on September 1, when a video of the alleged slaughter went viral, prompting outrage and threats from right-wing groups. Some groups even warned that they would not allow Ganesh idol immersions to take place unless arrests were made.
“It was a big challenge for us, as there is no magic wand to act instantly. However, we formed four teams and sent them to different locations, including Khuldabad, Parbhani, and Hyderabad,” SP Bansal told reporters.
Police said the arrests brought the situation under control, and Ganesh idol immersions later went ahead peacefully. Authorities also confirmed that more charges under the Information Technology Act and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) will be added against the accused.
