Biryani policing: Ahead of Eid, Haryana police assigned to check samples for beef

Police officials in Haryana’s only Muslim-dominated district of Mewat have reportedly been assigned to collect biryani samples. No, it’s not for a grand feast, as one would think. They have been tasked to collect samples from street vendors to check for beef, according to a report in  The Times of India. [caption id=“attachment_2995858” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Haryana police. Reuters[/caption] The move comes just a few days before Eid-al-Adha, which is on 11 September, according to Mid-day. The report further said that the Gau Sewa Ayog issued the diktat and has offered numerous justifications as to why only biryani is being targeted. The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Niti Aayog’s chairman Bhani Ram Mangla in Mewat on Tuesday. The Indian Express quoted him as saying, “We have decided to obtain samples of biryani sold in Mewat and Nuh since the commission had been receiving several complaints in this regard. As per the standard procedure, the samples have been sent to the laboratory for testing. If beef is found in the samples, action shall be taken.” Meanwhile Zee News quoted CPTF’s nodal officer Bharti Arora as saying that there were complaints of cow smuggling and slaughtering from various areas in Mewat. She also met locals in Mewat to discuss the issue. She added that after Mewat, sampling will be done in other districts as well. According to The Times of India, Mangla believes that selling beef openly is difficult, and according to complaints received by them, the vendors are mixing a little rice with the meat to camouflage it. The police has been told to book vendors immediately and Mangla said that they have asked the food and drug administration to ensure early reports of tests.” Senior Congress leader from Mewat Aftab Ahmed has called this an attempt by the BJP government to humiliate the particular community and district.