26 Tonnes of Beef Seized from Municipal Vehicle in Bhopal, Contractor Jailed; ₹35-Crore Modern Slaughterhouse Sealed

Bhopal:
A major controversy has erupted in Madhya Pradesh’s capital Bhopal after 26 tonnes of beef were seized from a vehicle belonging to a newly inaugurated, state-of-the-art municipal slaughterhouse. Following laboratory confirmation that the seized meat was beef, the contractor operating the facility, Aslam Qureshi, has been arrested and sent to jail. The Bhopal Municipal Corporation has sealed the slaughterhouse with immediate effect.

The modern slaughterhouse, built at a cost of ₹35 crore in the Jinsi area, had begun operations barely a month ago. Its management had been handed over to Livestock Food Processor Pvt. Ltd., owned by Qureshi. The incident has raised serious questions about oversight, accountability, and the tendering process within the civic body.

Political Uproar, Congress Demands Bulldozer Action

The seizure triggered a political storm, with the Congress staging a protest and laying siege to the Municipal Corporation office on Friday. Party leaders accused the ruling BJP of shielding those responsible and demanded strict action against all involved.

Congress State General Secretary Amit Sharma questioned how beef could be openly traded and allegedly exported from Bhopal under a BJP-led government. “Who awarded the tender to the contractor, and which political leaders are involved?” he asked, warning that if bulldozer action was not taken against the contractor’s house and the slaughterhouse, Congress workers would intensify their agitation.

BJP MLA Calls for NSA Action

Huzur MLA Rameshwar Sharma termed the incident extremely serious and stated that cases related to cow slaughter and trafficking would be registered. He announced that the accused could face action under the National Security Act (NSA) and assured strict punishment for any officials found complicit in the racket.

Past Controversies Linked to Same Contractor

Notably, this is not the first time the contractor has been embroiled in controversy. Around three years ago, Bhopal witnessed widespread outrage after carcasses of dead cattle were dumped, creating a “graveyard-like” situation. At that time too, the responsibility of lifting dead cattle rested with the same contractor, Aslam Qureshi.

Despite the arrest and sealing of the slaughterhouse, questions remain unanswered regarding the role of senior municipal officials and elected representatives. The incident has once again brought governance, enforcement, and political accountability in Bhopal under sharp public scrutiny.