After a severe crackdown by the state machinery, it is now being alleged that Muslim cow smugglers are using Hindu religious symbols to protect themselves from getting caught while being involved in criminal activities like cow smuggling and slaughtering.

As reported by Patrika, two Muslim youth from Meerut have been arrested smuggling cows while faking their religion by wearing tilak and a sacred thread to avoid detection.

The Uttar Pradesh police caught these men on Gadina road when they were smuggling cows to the nearby Radhna village. The two, Salim and Mobin, were caught sporting sacred saffron threads, garments and also tilak on their forehead. After interrogation by the police, the smugglers have confessed to being Muslims and that they were smuggling cows for slaughter.

It is reported that, some Muslim cattle smugglers use this tactic of using Hindu sacred symbols for both avoiding police and the gau rakshaks. It is also alleged that the cow protection activists resort to self-defence when faced with severe and life-threatening threats from the cow smugglers.

Uttar Pradesh has enacted a law against slaughtering of cows, Bullocks and ox. It is illegal to store or to eat beef in the state. The cow slaughtering will be a criminal offense in the state, which may result in 7 years imprisonment and/or a fine or Rs. 10,000.