The legal authorities arrested 3 individuals for slaughtering a cow on flag of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) publicly at the Meitei Pangal (Meitei Muslim)-dominated Lilong area in Thoubal district.
Video of slaughtering cow on BJP flag in Manipur went viral:
A video went viral on the night of January 30, where the individuals slaughtered a cow on a BJP flag after a candidate whom they were allegedly supporting was denied a BJP ticket. In the 29-second video, a group of youth, presumably Muslims, numbering around 10, were seen slitting the throat of the bovine on a BJP flag.
According to a report, those three individuals were also accused of abusing the Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren along with State BJP President.
About the accused:
The three accused have been identified as Nazbul Hussain aged 30, son of Akbar of Lilong Tolenkhun, Abdul Rashid aged 28, son of Md Abdul Rahim of Lilong Chabok Ipham and Arif Khan aged 32, son of Md. Yakub Ali of Lilong Heinou Makhong. All of them hail from Lilong in Thoubal district in Manipur.
What happened next?
They have been charged under the provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act 1960 and promoting enmity among different religious groups, the sources added.
Supporters create chaos:
At the same time BJP supporters burned effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh shouted slogans as protests erupted on January 30, after the party named candidates for next month’s elections, leaving many disappointed.
Party offices were ransacked in various parts of the state and protesters gathered in several areas with placards. Security has been stepped up around the BJP headquarters in Imphal.
A few party functionaries who were hoping to get tickets have resigned though the exact number remained unclear, reports said. According to sources, most of the disgruntled leaders were those who were not selected to accommodate defectors from the Congress.
At least 10 former Congress leaders who joined the BJP were given tickets as the BJP announced it would contest all 60 seats in the Manipur assembly elections, releasing a list of its candidates.