PONDA: The government has banned demonstrations and gatherings under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code around the Goa Meat Complex, at Usgao for its reopening on the occasion of Bakri-Eid festival.

In view of the Goa Meat Complex reopening, Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godhino on Wednesday discussed the security arrangements with Ponda DySP Mahesh Gaonkar and PI Harish Madcaikar for slaughtering cattle from August 22, at the facility. Incidentally, Mauvin is the chairman of the government-run facility which operates an abattoir.  

Cow vigilantes Rahul Desai, Samresh Naik, Vinay Talekar and Vishwas Naik were also invited for the discussion so as to enlighten them of the rights of beef consumers to slaughter cattle legally.

DySP Mahesh Gaonkar informed that the cow vigilantes were invited for the discussion to clarify to them any misunderstanding they had over the reopening of the Goa Meat Complex and prevent any clash between the cow vigilantes and police.

DySP Gaonkar also informed that government has imposed Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code at the Goa Meat Complex. 

DySP Gaonkar called upon the cow vigilantes to cooperate with the police in maintain peace when lawful slaughter activities are undertaken at the Goa Meat Complex as per government order. “Police will be deployed to maintain law and order at various check points,” DySP Gaonkar said. 

Cow vigilante Rahul Desai requested the police to take action against illegal transportation animals to Goa from Karnataka and Maharashtra.

“We are not against legal slaughtering; but since past four years, the Goa Meat Complex did not have any approval from health, pollution, and FDA,” cow vigilante Rahul Desai told Herald.

He said that many times they had come across cases wherein cattle were brought to Goa from Karnataka only with the certificate for transportation and no other. “Such animals have been slaughtered at Goa Meat Complex. We have seized such animals and handed over to police for action,” he added.