HT Correspondent
KHERONI, March 30: The District Session Court of Karbi Anglong district has sentenced 42-year-old Sultana Begum, a mother and small-time pan stall owner, to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 3 lakh under the stringent Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021. The verdict, delivered by the Court of the Sessions Judge, stipulates that failure to pay the penalty will result in an additional six months of simple imprisonment.
The conviction stems from Khatkhati Police Station Case No. 06/2022 (Session Court Case No. 02/2023), where Begum was charged under Section 13 of the Act for allegedly violating Sections 4 and 6, which prohibit the illegal slaughter, transportation, and sale of cattle. Begum, originally from Hokultali (Lahorighat) in Morigaon district, was arrested from her rented residence in Jortokbi village, Khatkhati on January 9, 2022. She was released on bail a month later.
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The First Information Report (FIR) was lodged on January 9, 2022, by Sobodh Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Hindu Jagaran Manch, accusing Begum and her husband, Md. Miraj Ali, of violating cattle preservation laws. However, the court acquitted Miraj Ali due to insufficient evidence and extended his bail. While Begum’s conviction underscores the Assam government’s strict enforcement of the 2021 cattle protection law, her husband’s acquittal has drawn attention to the complexities of the case.
The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, enacted in 2021, prohibits the slaughter of cows and restricts the sale and transport of cattle without valid permits, with stringent penalties for violations. This case marks one of the first major convictions under the legislation in Karbi Anglong district.
Cattle heads stolen from Sootea
HT Correspondent
BISWANATH CHARIALI, March 30: Consecutive cattle head theft incidents cases that took place on Friday and Saturday night respectively raised concerns among locals as they have to spend sleepless nights in Sootea. According to information, a cow was stolen from the cowshed of one Apurba Bora, a resident of Khanaguri under Sootea PS on Friday night. Similarly, one bullock was stolen from the cowshed of one Rati Kalita, a resident of Bara Bhuyan village on Saturday night.
It is worth mentioning that cases of cattle head smuggling, goat thieving, chain snatching, drug peddling etc. are on the rise in and out of the greater Sootea area. Sootea police have apprehended many drug peddlers, cattle smugglers so far. But the numbers of anti-social activities are yet to be brought under control.
The victim families alleged that some slaughter houses are active in the northern part of Sootea which supply the beef and other slaughtered meat to Sootea, Jamugurihat, Biswanath Chariali and to Tezpur. The victim public further alleged that due to active slaughter houses the cattle smugglers manage to sell and supply the beef or slaughtered meat in the adjoining areas. Until and unless the butcher shops are brought under control, the cases of cattle head smuggling would not be brought to control, said one of the victims. The conscious people have urged the district administration and the police administration as well to take up the issue seriously.
