Seven Arrested in Uttar Pradesh Over Alleged Cow Slaughter at Wedding Reception in Kairana

Seven people have been arrested in Kairana town of Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh, on allegations that a cow was slaughtered and its meat served at a walima, or wedding reception, on June 18. Among those held is Farman, the groom whose celebration sparked the investigation, along with a banquet hall manager, an alleged meat preparer, and three others.

How Police Cracked the Case

Authorities received information on June 18 about a suspected cow slaughter near thickets close to Khurgan village. Officers visiting the site discovered bloodstains and animal remains in a pit. Tyre marks at the scene were identified as belonging to an SUV, which police believed had been used to transport the meat.

Investigators traced the vehicle through CCTV footage, including a recording in which brake lights briefly lit up the SUV’s number plate. A subsequent search of the vehicle turned up a strong smell of meat and small pieces of meat inside. The SUV had been gifted to Farman by his in-laws at the time of his wedding on June 16, just two days before the walima.

During questioning, Farman allegedly admitted to police that he, along with a man named Salman and two other associates, caught and slaughtered the bovine. Forensic examination results on the meat remains are still pending.

Banquet Hall Sealed, Authorities Issue Notice

The banquet hall where the walima was held has been sealed by the Muzaffarnagar Development Authority following an inspection on Tuesday. Kairana falls under MDA jurisdiction, and the authority acted after being informed by Shamli police.

MDA Executive Engineer Vineet Kumar Agarwal said the hall’s owner had been served a notice demanding the sanctioned building map and other relevant property documents. “So far, we have not received any response to the notice. The banquet hall has been sealed,” he told the Indian Express.

Those arrested include the groom Farman, banquet hall manager Anees Ahmad, Khalil Faridi who allegedly prepared the meat, and three others identified as Furkan, Ashfaq, and Zulfikar. Shamli Superintendent of Police Narendra Pratap Singh confirmed the hunt for additional suspects was continuing, stating, “Efforts are on to trace four more accused.”