Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stern warning to unruly elements acting as cow vigilante groups, the Union Home Ministry on Tuesday issued advisory to all States to implement strict laws in tackling such groups. The advisory said that no one should be allowed to take law into their hands in the name of cow protection and punish the alleged wrongdoers engaged in cattle smuggling and slaughtering.
“In States where slaughter of cows is prohibited by law, such slaughtering would be in violation of law, and an offence. However, that does not entitle any individual or group of persons to take action on their own to prevent the alleged slaughter or punish the alleged wrong doers,” said the advisory.
MHA’s advisory reiterated that it is the duty of States to prevent smuggling, if cow slaughtering is banned in the State, while not allowing miscreants to take law into their hands.
“Section 39 of the CrPC requires that any person aware of the commission of certain offences or intention thereof, is required to give information to the nearest magistrate or police officer of such commission or intention. Therefore, if an offence is committed, or about to be committed, such an offence, or possibility of offence is required to be brought to the notice of the concerned police authorities or magistrate for appropriate action as per law. No person can,
under any circumstances, take the law into their own hands,” said the advisory, seeking stern action against vigilante groups involved in violence.