900kg of horse meat seized in Jamalpur, five jailed

JAMALPUR, Aug 24: A mobile court seized around 900kg (22.5 maunds) of smelly horse meat in Jamalpur while it was being transported for sale as beef.

Five people were sentenced to jail in connection with the incident. Three of them were sentenced to six months in jail each, while the pickup driver and his helper were sentenced to two months in jail each.

The convicts are Jewel, 40, of Saincharpar Village in Sarishabari Upazila of Jamalpur; Shahid Mia, 40, of Dobakandi village; Alfaz Mia, 45, of Char Dobakandi village; Humayun, 47, of Sholakuri village in Madhupur upazila of Tangail; and Russel Mia, 30, of Batkul village in Zajira upazila of Shariatpur.

Executive Magistrate Emon Hossain conducted the mobile court. Upazila Livestock Officer Dr Asaduzzaman was also present.

The accused were also fined Tk 1,10,000 in total. The seized meat was destroyed following the rules.

According to sources, 13 sacks of meat were taken by a pickup from the Tulshirchar area to Mirapur Ghat in the Narundi Bazar area on Sunday morning. A strong foul smell spread while the sacks were being unloaded, raising suspicion among local people.

The locals then stopped the pickup and informed the Narundi Police Investigation Centre. Police went to the spot and found horse meat after opening the sacks.

Later, the mobile court conducted the operation under the Animal Slaughter and Meat Quality Control Act, 2011, and the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009.