Two Muslim men arrested for slaughtering cows in Betul, Madhya Pradesh
Betul, Madhya Pradesh, India 
6 August, 2025
Case Summary
In Betul, Madhya Pradesh, police received a tip-off that two Muslim men named Raja Qureshi and Sheikh Israr were slaughtering cows in the forest area near Jhagadia Road, Jhadegaon. Police conducted a raid on the location; however, both fled the scene. The police recovered blood, skin, meat packed in a bag, and weapons such as knives and axes wrapped in cloth from the site. A case was registered by the police under Sections 4, 5 and 9 of the Cow Slaughter Prohibition Act, along with Section 25 of the Arms Act, based on the seized material. Since the matter was related to religious beliefs and law and order, the police conducted a thorough investigation, and a search operation was launched to nab the accused who were absconding. After continuous raids and searches, Raja Qureshi and Sheikh Israr, residents of Betul, were apprehended. During interrogation, both confessed to the crime. They were arrested and presented in court. The search for the third accused was still ongoing.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The slaughter of cows and the arrest of two Muslim men in this case raise strong concerns about religious animosity towards Hindus as a potential motive behind the crime. In Hinduism, the cow is regarded as sacred and holds deep religious and cultural significance. Often, cows are slaughtered by non-Hindu perpetrators as a mark of insult to the Hindu faith. There have been several documented cases throughout history where cow slaughter is used as a method to insult the Hindu faith, convert Hindus (by force-feeding beef), and desecrate Hindu temples. In all cases of cow slaughter, there is always a suspicion of religious animosity against Hindus working as a motivating factor. However, in the absence of any concrete evidence that the crime was religiously motivated, this case is being categorised under the 'Undecided' database. If more details emerge that demonstrate religious animosity as a motivating factor behind the crime, then it will be added to the hate crime database.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
