A CORRESPONDENT
KHERONI: The District Session Court of Karbi Anglong district sentenced 42-year-old Sultana Begum, a mother and small-time pan stall owner, to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 3 lakh under the stringent Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021. The verdict, delivered by the Court of the Sessions Judge, stipulates that failure to pay the penalty will result in an additional six months of simple imprisonment.
The conviction stems from Khatkhati Police Station Case No. 06/2022 (Session Court Case No. 02/2023), where Begum was charged under Section 13 of the Act for allegedly violating Sections 4 and 6, which prohibit the illegal slaughter, transportation, and sale of cattle. Begum, originally from Hokultali (Lahorighat) in Morigaon District, was arrested from her rented residence in Jortokbi Village, Khatkhati, on January 9, 2022. She was released on bail a month later.
The First Information Report (FIR) was lodged on January 9, 2022, by Sobodh Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Hindu Jagaran Manch, accusing Begum and her husband, Md Miraj Ali, of violating cattle preservation laws. However, the court acquitted Miraj Ali due to insufficient evidence and extended his bail. While Begum’s conviction underscores the Assam Government’s strict enforcement of the 2021 cattle protection law, her husband’s acquittal has drawn attention to the complexities of the case. The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, enacted in 2021, prohibits the slaughter of cows and restricts the sale and transport of cattle without valid permits, with stringent penalties for violations. This case marks one of the first major convictions under the legislation in Karbi Anglong District.
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