Six Muslim youths arrested in Assam for posting 'offensive' cow slaughter video on Instagram

Guwahati: Police in BJP-ruled Assam on Wednesday arrested six Muslim youths on charges of posting an "offensive" video of cow slaughter on Instagram recently.

The six were arrested during a joint drive carried out by Guwahati city police and their counterparts in Kamrup district, acting on a complaint lodged at the city's Hatigaon police station. The six, aged between 19 and 30 years, hail from Asalpara village in Kamrup district, police said.

Police said the six were arrested for posting an "offensive" video clip depicting cow slaughter on Instagram. They have been identified as Sahil Khan, Hafizur Islam, Rokibul Husain, Sahidul Islam, Izaz Khan and Jahidul Islam.

A case was registered under section 13 (1) of Assam Cattle Preservation Act 2021 (prohibiting public sale and consumption of beef) and Section 299 (insult or attempt to insult the religious beliefs of any class of citizens) and Section 196 (speech or actions that promote enmity or hatred between groups) of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The arrest comes weeks after the BJP-led government in Assam decided to prohibit cow slaughtering and consumption of beef and beef products in all public places, including hotels and restaurants. The government in 2021 had amended the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, prohibiting sale and consumption of beef within five kilometers radius of temples and Vaishnavite monasteries. The state cabinet in December, however, extended the ambit of the act and prohibited the same in all public places.