Kannur: 8 Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers including former IYC Kannur Parliament constituency committee Rijil Makutty were arrested on Thursday for slaughtering an ox in full public view in protest against the Central government’s notification banning on sale of cattle for slaughtering.
The IYC workers identified as Hari, Joshi Kandathil, Sharafuddin Kattampally, N.K. Varun, Sudeep James, Justison Chandikolli and Shamej Peralasseri.
A case has been registered under sections 3 (infliction of unnecessary pain and suffering on animals) and 11 (treating animals cruelly) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Indian Penal Code Section 143 (unlawful assembly) and the Kerala Police Act’s section 120(a) (causing inconvenience to the public).
The act was committed on Saturday in Kannur. The Youth Congress had also issued a statement saying that the outfit does not support any kind of cruelty against animals.
Rahul Gandhi also took to Twitter to condemn the incident and wrote: “What happened in Kerala yesterday was thoughtless, barbaric & completely unacceptable to me & the Congress Party. I strongly condemn the incident.” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, “Such elements have no place in the Congress. Youth Congress workers have been suspended.”