Hours after bail, Bhopal abattoir operator back behind bars

Bhopal: In a major twist to the Bhopal slaughterhouse case, less than 24 hours after he was granted bail by a sessions court, Aslam Qureshi, the operator of the abattoir, was detained again by a police step under preventive sections as soon as he stepped out of Bhopal Central Jail.The reprieve lasted only a few hours, after he was released on bail on Wednesday late night, as Qureshi was placed under arrest and bundled away in a car. Jehangirabad police on Thursday registered a fresh case against the slaughterhouse operator, who was picked up in connection with the seizure of suspected banned meat. He was booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) and the matter was presented before the district collector, who issued a detention warrant against him.Informed later, claim kinHis family members alleged that Qureshi was forcefully taken in a red-coloured vehicle from outside the jail gate soon after his release. The kin said they chased the car, which was heading towards Bhauri Bypass, but after some distance, the vehicle went out of sight. Thereafter, his family members arrived at Gandhi Nagar police station to report the incident, but was informed, instead, that he was arrested under preventive sections.Police said around 10 pm on Wednesday, as Qureshi was stepping out of jail, nearly 50-100 right-wing demonstrators gathered outside the correctional, raising slogans. Tensions spiralled as the protest unfolded, prompting preventive action. Considering the ongoing festive season, the authorities, according to sources, feared that the gathering could disturb law and order. Scrambling to action, the police took him into custody and shifted him to Gandhi Nagar police station under preventive measures. Additional force was deployed outside the station to enforce law and order. On Thursday, Jehangirabad police formally submitted a report recommending that Qureshi be booked under NSA. The district collector accepted the recommendation, issuing a detention warrant.Right-wingers erupt after bailAs soon as word of Qureshi's bail got out, activists from local right-wing outfits staged a strong protest in Bhopal on Thursday. Marching from Mata Mandir to the police commissioner's office, the protesters chanted slogans against the administration, alleging premature bail despite an incomplete investigation. They also burned effigies and submitted a memorandum to the police demanding cancellation of bail and strict action under NSA. They also questioned the source and intended destination of the seized 26 tonnes of ‘banned' meat, claiming a larger network remains unexposed. Police deployed heavy force, including QRF units, across MP Nagar, TT Nagar, Shahpura, Misrod and surrounding areas to prevent any untoward incident.City police commissioner Sanjay Kumar confirmed that Qureshi was booked under NSA and sent back to jail, adding that further probe was underway.Where it all beganThe case dates back to Dec 17, last year when a container truck carrying meat packets was intercepted near the Lal Parade Ground in Bhopal. Subsequent forensic examination at Mathura laboratory reportedly confirmed the presence of banned meat, prompting the BMC-operated slaughterhouse at Jinsi to be sealed on Jan 8.A case was registered against Qureshi and the driver of the supply truck, Shoaib. They were arrested and put behind bars. Additionally, a veterinary doctor and eight other BMC staff were suspended for alleged negligence in connection with the seizure.Subsequently, an SIT headed by ACP Umesh Tiwari was constituted on Jan 19 to conduct a detailed investigation into the alleged supply of banned meat from the slaughterhouse.