Beef traders in Goa went on strike on Monday to protest a cow vigilante group's attack in Margao last week, the TOI reported.
On Monday, the traders requested a meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to demand protection when transporting beef as well as safety steps to prevent harassment by cow vigilante organisations.
The strike impacted beef sales two days before Christmas, when demand for red meat increases, according to the Goa Herald. The Times of India claimed that on December 18, members of a cow vigilante group disrupted beef vendors' businesses at the South Goa Planning and Development Authority market and intercepted a vehicle unloading beef. The vigilantes accused the vendors of engaging in illegal supply chain activities.
The confrontation escalated into violence, injuring three vendors. Bhagwan Redkar, a member of the cow vigilante organisation, defended their actions, claiming they had knowledge of illegal meat supplies.
“We did not attack any vendors,” Redkar told the Goa Herald. “We only came to investigate potential wrongdoings.”
Shabbir Shaikh, vice president of the Association of All Goa Muslim Jamaats, accused the vigilantes of attempting to extort money from traders, Scroll.in reported.
“They have been demanding a hafta [protection money] from us to continue our trade,” The Times of India quoted Shaikh as alleging. “They would earlier come to the state borders and harass us. Now, they are coming to our shops. We are running legal operations and have refused to give in to their demands.”
On Monday, Chief Minister Sawant stated that people who "take law into their own hands" will face consequences and that the state government's first priority is the supply of safe beef.
“We have stressed to meat traders that the beef sold in Goa should meet the highest standards of hygiene,” The Times of India quoted Sawant as saying. “However, if anyone tries to interfere with them and take the law into their own hands, the government will take strict action.”