NGO saves hundreds of cattle in City

Activists thrash 'smugglers', leading to traffic jam

Hundreds of animals being allegedly transported in trucks to Ghazipur for slaughter were rescued from central Delhi’s ITO on Saturday night by an NGO.

They were helped by scores of locals and commuters, who also damaged the trucks and thrashed the alleged cattle smugglers. The entire episode led to hours-long traffic chaos on the busy Ring Road.

“The rescued animals included over 900 cattle,” People for Animals officials said.

Most of the animals were allegedly in pathetic condition and this had left the public agitated, Saurabh Gupta, who identified himself as Maneka Sanjay Gandhi’s public relations officer, said. Gandhi is the chairperson of the People for Animals, the NGO that conducted the raid.

Gupta said the NGO received information that the animals, allegedly procured from states like Haryana and Rajasthan, were being transported to Ghazipur in trucks for slaughter.
PFA members waited near Delhi Police Headquarters at ITO on Saturday night for the arrival of the trucks. They caught the first truck at 11 pm on ITO bridge.

The massive traffic jam began at 11 pm and extended till Sunday morning. At 3 am, one side of the ITO bridge was freed and vehicle movement eased a little.

Gupta said the angry public, who resorted to violence, included even women and general commuters who parked their vehicles and began beating up the accused.

Some 10 trucks were smashed and one was set ablaze. “Several truck drivers and others involved in the smuggling were thrashed by the public. Many of them escaped by locking the trucks and taking the keys with them,” he said.

Eight of these trucks were seized by east Delhi’s Shakarpur police station, while nine of them by IP Estate police. Six men were arrested by Shakarpur police and efforts are on to nab more, police said. The rescued animals are currently being cared for by the NGO.