Cow Theft Case Sparks Tension in Assam’s Kharupetia; Beef Recovered from Public Toilet

Tension gripped the Nepali Market area under Kharupetia Police Station on Friday morning after stolen cattle were allegedly slaughtered, with beef recovered from a public toilet, triggering outrage among local residents.

According to locals, two cows belonging to Saidur Rahman of Ujagaon in Dhula were stolen during the night. While searching for his missing cattle, Rahman reached the Nepali Market early in the morning, where he allegedly caught butchers in the act of slaughtering one of the stolen cows, even as preparations were underway to slaughter another.

The incident quickly led to a heated situation in the market area. Taking advantage of the chaos, several suspects managed to flee, though one butcher, identified as Sanidul Islam, was detained by local residents and later handed over to the police.

After Kharupetia Police arrived at the spot, a shocking revelation came to light. Beef was recovered from inside a public toilet located in another section of the market. Locals alleged that the stolen cattle were being slaughtered inside the public toilet itself.

Residents also accused the market mahaldaar (caretaker), Amir Hussain, of being involved in the illegal activity.

According to the allegations, the caretaker had assisted the butchers and even provided the keys to the public toilet for slaughtering the cattle. Locals further claimed that similar incidents involving illegal cattle slaughter and the cutting of dead cattle had occurred in the market earlier as well.

Eyewitnesses said the cattle owner broke down in tears after seeing his cows—reared with care—being slaughtered. Enraged residents later vandalised the butcher’s shed and damaged equipment present there.

Kharupetia Police seized the beef, collected samples for examination, and took custody of the detained accused. A large number of cattle owners, who claimed their cows had earlier gone missing, also gathered at the site.

Further investigation into the incident is underway.

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