PHAGWARA: The ongoing investigation into a suspected illegal beef processing and distribution racket in Phagwara deepened late Thursday night with the arrest of two more individuals, including a man reportedly linked to a local elected representative.
Vijay Basant, said to be the husband of a councillor from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and another suspect, Hussan Lal, were taken into custody and produced before a local magistrate on Saturday. Both have been remanded to five days of police custody for further interrogation.
The arrests follow a major raid conducted earlier on Friday evening at a cold storage unit and a roadside eatery, Jyoti Dhaba, near Chachoki village.
Based on a tip-off, police seized approximately 29 quintals and 32 kilograms of suspected beef from the premises. Authorities have since sealed both locations and initiated legal proceedings under relevant sections of the law.
Seven individuals were arrested at the time of the raid. Police confirmed that six of them are residents of Malda district in West Bengal, one is from Chachrari village in Punjab, and one is a foreign national from Myanmar. Officials believe the group may be part of a larger supply network possibly operating across state borders, with meat reportedly being transported to areas including Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Toora, who is overseeing the investigation, said the case is complex and evolving. “This is just the beginning. We are piecing together the network and examining all angles, including financial, logistical, and possible political links, ” Toora said. He added that the police are currently tracing additional suspects who remain at large, including the dhaba owner.
The case was initiated following a formal complaint by Gurpreet Singh, National President of the Sanyukt Gau Raksha Dal, who alleged that the premises were being used for illegal beef processing. The raid and follow-up action were supervised by SP Rupinder Kaur Bhatti and DSP Bharat Bhushan, who confirmed that forensic testing has been initiated to conclusively identify the type of meat seized.
The incident has triggered strong reactions across political and civic groups. Shiv Sena State Vice-President Inderjit Karwal called for a thorough and impartial probe into what he described as a troubling nexus between criminal actors and individuals in positions of political or administrative influence.
Karwal sought to enquire the role of local municipal corporation, police and politicians sheltering the scam which he described as Anti-Social.Karwal urged the local police to trace and recover carcasses of the cows slaughtered near Phagwara.
Meanwhile, a delegation from the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) led by Punjab Vice-President Manish Sood met with senior police officials to demand a forensic audit of communications records and a verification drive among migrant populations, citing national security concerns.
Phagwara Mayor Rampal Uppal also expressed deep concern over the case, urging citizens to remain alert and report any suspicious activities in their localities. Leaders from the Shiromani Akali Dal and several Hindu organizations echoed the call for transparency and emphasized the need to shield the investigation from any form of political interference.
While community sensitivities remain high, authorities have appealed to the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information. “We are committed to a fair and unbiased investigation. No one will be spared if found guilty, regardless of their background or connections, ” SSP Toora assured.
The seized meat has been sent for laboratory analysis, and results are awaited. Meanwhile, investigations continue into the source of the meat, the network’s financing, and potential links to inter-state or international actors.