The Hyderabad Police on Tuesday took former Bharatiya Janata Party legislator T Raja Singh into preventive custody after he started an indefinite fast calling for the withdrawal of police cases registered against and him and other gau rakshaks, or cow protectors, reported PTI.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Goshamahal Division) M Narender Reddy said the detention was a precautionary measure and was carried out to avoid any law and order problems. Singh, who represents Goshamahal constituency, was taken into custody while on his way to the commissioner’s office in Hyderabad.
“Until the time my demands are not met, I will continue my protest,” Singh said in a tweet. “Even if the police release me, I will directly go to the commissioner’s office and continue to protest until my demands are met.”
On Monday, Singh had said he would sit on an indefinite fast near the Hyderabad police commissionerate demanding the withdrawal of cases and halting the “illegal” transportation of cows and calves ahead of Bakrid. The Muslim festival of sacrifice will be observed on Wednesday.
Last week, the police had lodged cases against Singh and his followers for allegedly assaulting officials over their demands on shifting bulls to a local gaushala (cow shelter home). Singh claimed the police registered “fake” first information reports against him and other gau rakshaks.
Earlier this month, the BJP legislator from Telangana quit the party to concentrate on his efforts to prevent cow slaughter. Singh claimed he had raised the matter of cow protection many times in the Assembly but “the party did not provide any support”. Singh said he resigned as he did not want to embarrass the party.
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