The beef battle has taken a baffling new turn in Haryana’s Muslim-dominated Mewat district. Reports suggest that police officials there have been asked to put aside more pressing matters such as crime control and law enforcement and, instead, collect biryani samples.

That’s right. Police officials in that district have been asked to collect biryani samples from street-side vendors to check if beef is being used in them. The move comes a few days before Bakri Eid, which will be celebrated on September 11.