Bengaluru: Despite a High Court ban on the illegal transportation and slaughtering of cattle in the state, animal rights activists claim that over one lakh cattle have already been illegally brought into the city for Bakrid, which falls on October 6. Cows, buffaloes, goats and sheep have been segregated and sent to the illegal slaughter houses in Goripalya, Tannery Road, M S Palya, Viveknagar, Bommanahalli, Kaval Byrasandra, D J Halli, Tilak Nagar, Islampur, Shivajinagar and other areas, they alleged.
In addition, over 200 plus camels have already been smuggled into the city from Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, while around 1.3 lakh cows, buffaloes and sheep have been brought into the city from Ahmedabad and Andhra Pradesh, violating various laws, including Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1964; Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960; AP Motor Vehicle Rules and Transportation of Animal Rules, 1978.
Sunil Duggar, spokesperson of Akhila Karnataka Prani Daya Sangha in Koramangala told Deccan Chronicle that around 50-60 truck loads of cows, buffaloes, sheep and goats get illegally transported into the city on a daily basis with no valid documents with transporters.
“The smuggling is carried out either in trucks or through trains. There is a big mafia running the racket of illegal slaughtering and also minting money by exporting the red meat internationally to Gulf countries, where there is a huge demand,” he added.
Meanwhile, Upa Lokayaukta has issued a notice to the various government agencies like Department of Animal Husbandry, Home Department, Police Commissioner of the city, Animal Welfare Board of India, BBMP and others to submit a report by Wednesday, on the steps taken by them to curb illegal slaughter of animals.
Joshine Anthony, Animal Welfare Officer at Gau Gyan Foundation, had filed a complaint on September 26 alleging that despite bringing it to the notice to various government officials, the illegal transportation and slaughtering of cattle have continued in the city. The government authorities had failed to take any measures to prevent illegal transportation of cattle and their slaughter happens openly in various parts of city in contravention of various laws, the activist added.
