Maharashtra Police has decided to procure portable cow meat detection kits worth Rs 8,000 each. If reports are to be believed, around forensic 45 vehicles will get the kit which will be able to tell if a meat consignment seized from a restaurant or a vehicle is beef (cow or bullock meat) or buffalo meat.

The kits will test the meat and give a result in 30 minutes. A single kit can test at least 100 samples, according to several reports. With this move, the authorities expect to control several incidents of violence which were triggered due to suspected case of beef consumption.  

About 100 police personnel will be taught how to operate these kits, of which the first batch of 25 has already started training.

Preliminary tests will reveal if the meat is that of a cow post which the police will collect samples and conduct a DNA test in the forensic science laboratory. The officials will also be able to collect blood samples and fingerprints to generate forensic evidence for judicial scrutiny.

Until now, DNA testing was only available in Mumbai, Nagpur, and Pune. In a few days, the FSLs in Aurangabad and Nashik will also get this facility. However, we want to believe that this step by the Maharashtra police, albeit a baby step, might reduce violence and suffering of every living being.