Illegal beef in mumbai

In a blatant violation of municipal laws, thousands of kg beef is smuggled in the city every day. Shockingly, it is the flesh of immature calves below the age of six months.
According to information, illegal beef is smuggled in the city from Ahmednagar, Sangamner, Baramati, Faltan and Daund. “This is violation of municipal laws prohibiting supply of beef from outside the city BMC limits. The illegal trade needs to be stopped immediately as it poses a grave threat to human lives as well,” said Karim Khan, founder president of People in Defence of Animals (PIDA). Ahmednagar and Sangamner are major centres where immature calves are slaughtered illegally and the flesh is sent to Mumbai. Sources said that three illegal slaughter houses are operating in Sangamner and two in Ahmednagar. Abdul Haq and one Wahid are owners of two illegal slaughter houses in Ahmednagar while Haji Sabir, Shahid Sheikh and Abdul Karim, all residents of Bharat Nagar in Sangamner own the three illegal slaughter houses there.
The syndicate involved in illegal trade of calf beef operates highly systematically in nexus with police and octroi department officials of BMC. One of the traders from Sangamner, who is active in the business since last 15 years said that the animals for slaughter are purchased from villages and in some cases, even stolen from cattle-shades. “The animals are brought in Sangamner and slaughtered at three places. The flesh is ready to be transported to Mumbai by 5 pm and the trucks carrying the beef reach the city by 11 pm,” the trader said. In all nine trucks carrying around 2 tone beef each come to Mumbai every day, the trader revealed. “We have an understanding with BMC and Mumbai police which facilitate smooth movement of trucks to and from Mumbai,” the trader said. If he is to be believed, a hefty sum is paid to BMC and police officials every month.
Sources said that the trucks carrying illegal beef are parked at Mastan Talao, Nagpada, Dongri, Chaval Galli, Nalbazar, opposite to Saifee Ambulance Services in Bori Mohalla, Bhindi Bazar, Lucky Compound in Madanpura and Shivaji Nagar in Govandi till 4 am and then the beef is distributed to legal as well as illegal shops at Reay Road, Dock Yard Road and Madanpura. “We sale beef to traders in Mumbai at Rs 78 per kg who supply it to retail market at Rs 100-110 per kg,” said the trader from Sangamner. According to him Sabir Bhajiwale from Dongri, Mohammed Qureshi from Nagpada, Riyaz Qureshi from Madanpura and Farid Qureshi from Govandi are the main trades in Mumbai. “Sabir and Mohammed Qureshi purchase two trucks each while others purchase one truck each every day,” said Karim Khan. The beef is sold at more than 50 shops in the city, Khan said. “It is not just Ahmednagar or Sangamner. Huge quantity of illegal beef is smuggled in the city from Baramati, Faltan and Daund also. We have information that animals are slaughtered in forests around Pune,” Khan added. Repeated complaints with the police since last four years have proved futile. “We have even lodged complaints with the chief minister and the director general of police. But they have failed to control the smuggling,” Karim Khan said.