Bhopal: Number of animal sacrifice down this year, cow vigilante blamed

Bhopal: Number of animal sacrifice down this year, cow vigilante blamed

SmitaUpdated: Thursday, May 30, 2019, 03:49 AM IST
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Bhopal: The number of animals sacrificed in the city on Bakrid this year is down by almost 10% in comparison to last year. The reduction is being attributed to various factors, including crackdown on slaughter houses in UP, cow vigilante and the frenzy kicked up on Gau Raksha.

General secretary of All-India Jamiatul Quresh, Abdul Qureshi, says “Last year, 10,000 animals, including 5,000 goats and buffaloes, were slaughtered in the city. This year, the figure stood at around 9,000. It could also be an impact of demonetisation. Besides, so-called Gau Rakshaks and Bajrang Dal activists are running riot and the police are in cahoots with them”.

He said that vehicles carrying animals for slaughter to Bhopal had to avoid passing through Uttar Pradesh. “Almost 40% of animals slaughtered in Bhopal are from the state, while 35% are from Chhattisgarh, 20% from Rajasthan and 5% from Maharashtra,” he said.
Similarly, an employee of slaughter house at Jinsi, who has been working there for 23 years said, “Yes, the number of animals slaughtered this time was less than the last year. It can’t be blamed on shortage of animals as MP supplies to other states too. Vehicles carrying animals are being stopped at different places in MP. Policemen, as well as Bajrang Dal men, are demanding money. Every year around 10,000-12,000 animals – mostly goats and buffaloes – were brought to the state from UP on Bakrid. Sheep were transported from Rajasthan. But this year, the business from UP was close to nothing”.

Last year, 3000-3500 animals, including big and small, were slaughtered in Jinsi slaughterhouse in three days around Bakrid. But this year the number stood at 2500.

Apart from Jinsi slaughter house, 39 temporary slaughter houses were also set up at different places in the city for three days on Bakrid. They were managed by the veterinary department and BMC jointly.

“Our business is down by 40%. Police are stopping our vehicles at Hoshangabad, Bina, Multai, Itarsi and other places and are not allowing them to proceed without paying Rs 10,000-15,000 per vehicle. We carry seven to eight animals in a pick-up vehicle. Earlier too they used to demand bribe but it was nominal,” says Syed Bhai who is into the business of transporting animals for slaughter for about eight years.

He says “Besides Bajrang Dal activists also extort money from us. If we don’t pay up, the drivers are beaten. Some vehicles were even torched. We never faced such situation earlier. They are looting us. Bahot dikkat hai…”

Mohammed Asif, a butcher says, “The meat market is sluggish this year. Our sale is down 25%. The price of animals has increased due to less supply. Small animals are dearer by Rs 4000. A pada (buffalo calf) used to cost Rs 17,000 but now it costs Rs 28,000. ”

Let them complain: IGP

I don’t have any idea that policemen are extorting money from vehicles transporting animals. If it is happening, let them complain. We will take action.

– Yogesh Chaudhary, IGP, Bhopal

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