Man Held With Three Maunds of Horse Meat in Khulna's Dumuria, Mobile Court Jails Him for Three Months

A man named Anisur Rahman, also known as Palash Mahmud (40), has been detained in Dumuria, Khulna, with nearly three maunds of meat from three slaughtered horses. A mobile court later sentenced him to three months of rigorous imprisonment. A live horse was also rescued during the operation.

He was detained in a raid at around 1:30 a.m. on Friday night at the South Bengal Cattle Farm in the Kanchanpur Porabari area of the upazila. The operation was carried out by SRB-6. Palash's accomplices fled during the raid, officials said.

Jaeen Uddin Mohammad Jihad, acting company commander of the CPC-1 camp under SRB-6, said the gang allegedly slaughtered horses and sold the meat as beef or mutton at various places and hotels. In other words, buyers thought they were purchasing beef or mutton while horse meat was reaching them instead.

During preliminary interrogation, Palash admitted to slaughtering at least 16 horses and selling their meat, officials said. The initial information suggests this was not an isolated incident but an ongoing operation.

On Saturday (October 24) afternoon, Dumuria Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Sohel Rana conducted the mobile court. Under Section 16(a) of the Animal Slaughter and Meat Quality Control Act, 2019, the court sentenced Palash to three months of rigorous imprisonment.

Upazila Livestock Officer Dr. Ashraful Kabir said the seized horse meat had been slaughtered in unhygienic conditions, which posed a risk to public health. Meat slaughtered and stored in such conditions can become even more dangerous as food, he indicated.

The seized meat was later buried and destroyed so that it could not reach the market or people's food in any way. The rescued live horse was placed in the custody of local UP member Munsur Ali Sheikh.

The incident has raised fresh questions about food safety. As the meat was allegedly sold to hotels and various places, it has become important to trace where it went. Finding Palash's fleeing accomplices is also an important part of the investigation.

If the allegation of selling horse meat as beef or mutton is proven, it is not only a violation of the law but also fraud against buyers. That is why demands may grow locally for stronger monitoring of such gangs.

For now, the convicted Palash will serve his prison sentence. Officials expect that arresting the fugitive accomplices will reveal more details about the gang's full operation.