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Cow is mother of universe, home to 33cr deities: Gujarat court invokes Vedas, Manusmriti to sentence Muslims

In the opening four pages of its judgment, the court cited ancient Hindu scriptures, describing cows as the “mother of the universe” housing 33 crore deities, while referring to the Manusmriti as recognising the cow as “an equal” and the “axis” of dharma.

A sessions court in Gujarat has described cows as the mother of the universe and said that 33 crore deities reside in them, invoking passages from the Vedas and the Manusmriti to sentence three Muslim men to life imprisonment for cow slaughter, while noting that the accused knew that “cows are considered as mothers”, yet proceeded to slaughter one.

In the first four pages of its judgment, delivered on Monday, the court elaborated on the religious significance of cows, citing Hindu scriptures, particularly the Manusmriti, which recognises the cow “not merely as an animal but as an equal” and as an axis of dharma, or religious duty, the Deccan Herald reported on Wednesday.

The court reportedly warned that “if such accused…are not punished as prescribed by law, the mother cows will become extinct with the passage of time”.

The three convicts, Wasim Kureshi, Mohammad Rafiq Kureshi and Asfak Bahelim, were found guilty under provisions of the Gujarat Animal Preservation Amendment Act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, among other charges, and each was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life and fined Rs 3 lakh.

According to the report, the men purchased old or non-milking cattle at low prices and slaughtered them for commercial gain, while the police caught them as they were allegedly preparing to sell the meat and seized approximately 277 kg of beef.

Buffalo traders assaulted in Madhya Pradesh

In a separate incident in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district, a group of alleged Hindutva activists assaulted two Muslim buffalo traders and a van driver who were transporting the animals, The Hindu reported on Wednesday.

The group stopped the vehicle, accusing the traders of stealing the buffaloes. Videos of the incident show the two traders being tied up, dragged through a field and beaten with sticks.

Police have registered a case against unidentified persons, while some suspects have been identified through video footage, and efforts are underway to arrest them. Damoh Superintendent of Police Anand Kaladagi said the traders were also booked for transporting the animals in poor conditions in a small van.