ALWAR/MEWAT: Around 20 days after Mewati youth
Talim Hussain was gunned down by Alwar police in an encounter, the
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind on Tuesday announced its advisory for cattle transporters of Mewat, asking them to transport cattle only during daytime, and with proper documents. They said if the transporters fail to do so, they won't receive any support from the community leaders.
Around half-a-dozen incidents, of Muslim cow owners/transporters getting killed by vigilante mobs in Alwar after being mistaken as cow smugglers, have been reported in the recent past. These include Mewatis 55-year-old dairy farmer Pehlu Khan and 23-year-old Talim Hussain, who was a driver by profession. Following this, a meeting of Jamiat Ulama-E-Hind leaders was organised in Alwar's Shivaji Park on Tuesday. The meeting included the organisation's leaders from Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.
At the end of the meeting, the Jamiat announced that anyone transporting cows at night will be termed as cow smuggler. Dairy farmers and other cattle owners have been asked to transport their animals only during daytime, i.e., between 8am and 5pm. Those buying cows from cattle fairs in other districts or states, too, will have to plan their travel during the day. In case of any mishap during the night, the Jamiat will not support the victim.
"Cow owners try to save money and time by travelling during the night, but this has turned ugly instead. If an innocent person dies, we'll fight till Supreme Court to seek justice. However, if anyone is found to violate these rules or actually being involved in illegally cows transporting, the Jamiat will not support them," said Maulana Yahya Karimi, community leader from Mewat.
The Jamiat also said people ferrying cattle must carry valid documents, including description of cattle in their vehicles. This is for their own protection, said the leaders, as Mewat is being maligned as the land of cow killers. "Mewat has always been a land of dairy farmers, who survive by selling milk. If they kill cows, they will lose their livelihoods. Recently, innocent people were killed and their families ruined, because of misunderstanding with gau rakshaks over cows. We need to ensure Mewatis do not give these self-appointed gau rakshaks a chance to point fingers at them," said
Maulana Hakimuddin Qasmi, the Jamiat secretary.
The Jamiat will also form block-level committees to identify all cattle owners in this area. Anyone else found to be involved in illegal cattle smuggling, will be asked to mend their ways. In fact, the community will help them to look for an alternative trade.
