Pune: A significant rescue operation by Daund Police led to the release of 16 cows tied in dense roadside bushes near Sonwadi Phata, Daund. The cows were being held for slaughter. The operation was initiated following a tip-off received on the Maharashtra Emergency Response System (112).

Police identified the accused as Azim Qureshi, Tannu Ismail Qureshi, Babya Qureshi, and Kumail Jabbar Qureshi, all residents of Daund. They have been booked under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976. According to the complaint filed by Akash Sanjay Bhaisade, the total value of the rescued cows is estimated at ₹3 lakh.

The operation was carried out near Dhanashree Hotel along the Daund-Ahilyanagar National Highway. The cows, left without food, water, or medical care, were tied in bushes by suspected cattle smugglers. Police, with assistance from local animal activists, managed to rescue the animals and transfer them to a gaushala (cow shelter).

Animal activists, including Akshay Kanchan, Rishikesh Kamthe, and Rahul Kadam, were pivotal in coordinating with the police during the rescue mission.

One of the accused, Kumail Jabbar Qureshi, has been linked to prior incidents involving cattle slaughter. He was booked in 2022 under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act for allegedly attempting to forcibly convert a youth. Furthermore, he faced charges in 2024 for slaughtering cows and selling beef near the Daund Court premises.

The Maharashtra government declared cows as "Rajyamata-Gomata" (State Animal - Mother Cow) in September 2024 to reinforce their protection. However, despite this designation, illegal cattle slaughter cases continue to surface in Daund and surrounding areas.