Radar on Chinese nationals for consuming beef in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL: Chinese nationals working for Sasan Power Project in Madhya Pradesh's Singrauli have come under the scanner of police on suspicion of consuming 'beef'. Company sources said the Chinese nationals were not employees of Sasan Power, but are associated with Chinese firms who set up infrastructure in the district.

At least 65kg of meat, which was seized from a private canteen employee, has been sent for lab test. Company sources told TOI that beef consumption was against the guidelines issued to Chinese nationals.

Late on Saturday, the arrested canteen employee told police that he had been bringing meat from Chhattisgarh, particularly for seven Chinese workers at Sasan for a year. Four people have been booked under Madhya Pradesh Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act. Police have also slapped a notice on the HR department of the power firm, seeking details of canteen contractors and customers.

Activists of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) got a tip off that beef was being transported to Singrauli. They tried to nab three youths on a bike in Siddhi Khurd village, near Sasan Power Project. While two of them managed to flee, one of them, Ram Sagar Jaiswal, was caught. "Jaiswal is a resident of Chhattisgarh and told us during interrogation that he works in a canteen and was transporting beef," Waidhan police station in charge, Mahendra Singh told TOI.

VHP was not pacified by the arrest and threatened massive protests if stringent action is not taken. "Beef trade is illegally continuing for years. Accused has also confessed to the crime and named a Chinese official. No guilty should be spared. The man arrested has limited role as he worked as a labourer in the canteen. Those who managed to flee were also merely transporting meat. Action should be taken against Chinese nationals for consuming beef," said Rajbahadur, leader of VHP's Singrauli unit.