A group of lawyers, researchers, and activists on June 7 urged the Bengaluru police to take immediate preventive action against murder accused cow vigilante Puneeth Kerehalli, ahead of Eid-ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice).
In a complaint submitted to senior police officials, they alleged that ‘self-proclaimed’ animal rights activists have been unlawfully entering Muslim households in Tannery Road, Ahmednagar, and Shivajinagar in the city under the pretext of preventing cow slaughter. Such vigilantism has the potential to trigger communal tensions. In Bengaluru, Eid-ul-Adha is observed from the evening of June 6 to June 7, but celebrations usually extend a couple of days beyond that.
It must be noted that the areas where Puneeth Kerehalli posted videos from have a significant Muslim population.
In their complaint, the signatories including, advocates BT Venkatesh and Clifton D’Rozario, public health expert Dr Sylvia Karpagam, and social activists Syed Tousif Masood and Zia Nomani, urged the police to take repeat offenders such as Puneeth Kerehalli under preventive detention under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) or the Goondas Act.
The demand follows two videos uploaded on Facebook by Puneeth Kerehalli on June 4 and 6. In the 30-minute clips, he claims to be outside a Muslim household, and is seen entering the premises where cattle and goats are kept.
On camera, Puneeth claims he has alerted the Pulakeshinagar police and urges viewers to widely share the video. In Hindi, he adds: “This is happening in every Muslim household. They bring animals and slaughter them for Eid.”
A man in plainclothes, identified by Puneeth Kerehalli as a policeman, is later seen entering the same house. Puneeth’s associates, some wearing tilak on their foreheads, are seen filming the scene.
Although the man who is purported to be the police officer is heard asking Puneeth to leave, he continues to shoot the video, alleging that “Muslims are able to do this because of the Congress government.” He is seen laughing as police question the residents, one of whom pleads, “One time, sir.” The man was seemingly pleading to be let off this time.
In another video posted on June 4, Puneeth and his associates are seen “rescuing” cattle from a Muslim neighbourhood in Ahmednagar, and getting into a heated argument with local residents.
Puneeth Kerehalli is part of the Rashtra Rakshana Pade (National Protection Force), an extremist Hindutva group known for its aggressive “cow protection” campaigns. He is the main accused in the murder of cattle transporter Idrees Pasha in Karnataka’s Ramanagara in March 2023.
He routinely intercepts cattle transport vehicles and uploads videos on his Facebook profile. Puneeth and his group have also campaigned for the boycott of Muslim vendors near Hindu temples and have opposed the sale of halal meat in Karnataka.
He is believed to be close to the Bharatiya Janata Party, with several images showing him along with top leaders from Karnataka.
Puneeth has always maintained that his actions are legitimised by the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020, which criminalises cattle transportation for slaughter within the state. The law makes an exception for buffaloes over 13 years of age and terminally ill cattle. While transporting cattle for sale to other states remains legal, even such transport has become a risky business with vigilantes targeting vehicles.
Speaking to TNM, activist Syed Tousif Masood said that the complaint was to urge police action. “There is a law in place. If anyone is slaughtering animals illegally or transporting meat unlawfully, it is the police who are empowered to act. Not vigilante groups,” he said.
The complaint was physically submitted to the Deputy Commissioners of Police of the West, East, and North divisions. Officials reportedly declined to acknowledge receipt, citing Bakrid holiday and unavailability of staff.
To ensure a record of the complaint, copies were also sent via email to the Commissioner of Police, ADGP (Law & Order), DGP & IGP Karnataka, Chief Secretary to the CM, the Home Minister, and Bengaluru in-charge Minister DK Shivakumar.
