Following a violent clash between beef vendors and members of a cow protection group, in Margao, which left some people injured, beef traders announced a state-wide shutdown in order to protest the harassment. The timing of the clash is suspicious because of the coming festive and wedding season. The shutdown is expected to affect a large section of beef consumers, including caterers, restaurants, and households. The government needs to intervene and resolve the matter at the earliest. The reason attributed to the clash is that the meat being unloaded at the market was ‘illegal’ meat. There are authorities whose task is to keep an eye on any meat being sold illegally and people cannot take law into their own hands. It is pertinent to note that several cattle have lost their lives in road accidents in recent times. These vigilantes should show concern for such deaths and take necessary steps to prevent deaths of cattle on the roads. Stray cattle roaming on the roads also pose danger to the road users. These vigilantes should see to it that the stray cattle are transported to the ‘gaushalas’.
