Special squad to keep tabs on illegal slaughter of cattle

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has proposed to set up a special squad to keep tabs on illegal slaughter of cattle and camels in the City.

The BBMP has submitted the proposal to the Upalokayukta and the Urban Development department.

“The BBMP’s Animal Husbandry Department has submitted the proposal stating that the squad will have officials from the police, Transport and Animal Husbandry departments. The joint director of Animal Husbandry department stated that the recommendation has been sent to the Secretary, Urban Development department,” Upalokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi said.

Justice Adi had issued a show-cause notice to Bengaluru City police and Animal Husbandry Department for failing to stop illegal transportation and slaughter of cattle and camels. Joshine Anthony, Animal Welfare Officer, had lodged a complaint with the Upalokayukta, stating that despite alerting the BBMP and the City police, illegal transportation and unauthorised slaughterhouses continue to thrive in Bengaluru.
The complainant alleged that several government bodies were not taking any action to curb the slaughtering that causes health hazards. Joint Director for Animal Husbandry in the BBMP and the City police submitted a report stating that the police have registered 32 FIRs in the last one month.

Posters on camel meat

“The photographs submitted by the complainant show posters put up to advertise camel meat. The photographs show chopped legs of camels dumped outside the shops. The photographs produced were proof of the illegal activity. The relevant laws have been explained and directions issued by the Supreme Court, High Court and the government.

The complainant has filed photographs wherein policemen are standing helplessly in front of unauthorised slaughterhouses,” Justice Adi said, adding that though Animal Welfare Board, chaired by the minister, was constituted in 2002, till January 2014 it has not met even once.

According to the BBMP, there are only three authorised slaughterhouses in the City. The complainant alleged that in Shivajinagar alone, there are around 15 unauthorised slaughterhouses.

In her complaint, Joshine Anthony had stated that more than one lakh cattle have been illegally brought to the City in the last four months.

She stated that though the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act prohibits transportation and slaughter of certain animals, the process goes on unabated.

The Supreme Court, in 2013, had issued directions to all states in regard to prevention of slaughter of cow, calf, she buffalo and camel, the complainant stated.