Nearly a dozen houses demolished in MP's Mandla after police find beef in fridge

As many as 11 houses built on government land were demolished in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh, after authorities received a tip off of illegal beef trade in the state, a police official said.

The police conducted a raid in the tribal dominated Nainpur in Bhainswahi area which led to the discovery of 150 cows and beef from the homes, Mandla Superintendent of Police Rajat Saklecha told news agency PTI.

“A team was rushed there and we found 150 cows tied in the backyards of the accused. Cow meat was recovered from the refrigerators in the homes of all the11 accused. We also found animal fat, cattle skin and bones, which were stuffed in a room,” he said.

Following the raid, an FIR was registered and one of the accused was arrested. The hunt was on for the remaining 10.

“The local government veterinarian has confirmed the seized meat is beef. We have also sent samples to Hyderabad for secondary DNA analysis. The houses of the11 accused were demolished as they were on government land,” the SP said.

"Bhainswahi area had become a hub of cow smuggling for some time now. Cow slaughter in MP is punishable with a jail term of seven years," Saklecha noted.

The police said that the criminal backgrounds of two of the accused had been verified, and efforts were underway to reveal details about the others. All the accused have been identified as Muslims, the police sources said.

(With PTI inputs)