VASCO, NOV 18
Vasco police arrested 35 people, mostly butchers, on charges of illegally slaughtering nearly 87 cattle and also rescued 26 cattle from illegal makeshift abattoirs at Katem Baina sea shore on Thursday.
The slaughtering of cattle at the fag end of Baina beach near Desterro, that commenced at about 8 am, was stopped at about 12 pm, when the NGO Panjim Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), lodge a complaint with the Vasco police.
However, immediately after a few minutes, the slaughtering of cattle resumed when Mormugao Municipal Council Chief Officer Gopal Parsekar issued a memo to the police stating the applicants had obtained permission to undertake the activity.
The NGO then confronted the police claiming that the permission issued by the chief officer was illegal. Acting on this, the police went to the site for the second time and stopped the slaughtering of cattle at about 5 pm.
This time though, the chief officer issued an order to stop further slaughtering of cattle.
PAWS Secretary Angela Kazi lodged a complaint about the illegal slaughtering of cattle on the sea shore.
Speaking to reporters, she said that the chief officer Parsekar in completed violation had issued permission to slaughter animals in the open.
Kazi accused Pareskar and veterinary doctor P M Rane for flouting all norms and for permitting the slaughter of animals in the open place.
“If Parsekar had not directed the resumption of the slaughter, many cattle would have saved,” said Kazi.
“Under what provision did the chief officer and veterinary doctors permit the slaughter of the animals,” asked Kazi.
She further warned that her NGO would file a complaint against the chief officer and the doctor for bypassing norms.
“The authorized place to slaughter the cattle in large number is the Goa Meat Complex,” said Kazi.
Vasco DySP Mahesh Gaonkar said 35 people were arrested on charges of slaughtering cattle beyond the permissible area.
“Twenty-six cattle were rescued, while weapons used in the slaughter along with the flesh have been seized,” he added.
Meanwhile, veterinary doctor has refuted allegations of Kazi.
“The slaughter of cattle on the beach is completely illegal and I have not issued any permission to any such activity,” he said.
“I had inspected the cattle on the application of Anjuman Khairul Islam and had only issued the Anti-Mortem Certificate stating that cattle were fit for slaughter. But I did not give any permission to slaughter the cattle,” said Rane.
“My department had even informed the MMC that slaughter of cattle is not permitted in the open place and such activity could only take place at the Goa Meat Complex,” he added.
MMC CO Gopal Parsekar refrained from commenting on issue, however, after constant approach he said that would consult a legal advisor to answer allegations of Kazi.
When asked under what provision he had issued permission to slaughter the cattle, he said: “For the last few years, the slaughtering was being undertaken at the same place. Based on the earlier permission, I had issued the permission this year too.”
Mohamed Ziya Shaikh said that they have been offering ‘Kurbani’ for last 30 years.
“Slaughtering of animal is being carried out at same place after taking all precautionary measures and ensuring hygienic conditions,” he said.
“We have obtained permission from MMC and health authorities and slaughtering is undertaken considering all hygienic norms,” said Adam Zuma.
Vasco police has arrested all 35 people under section 429 of IPC and section 8 of Goa Animal Protection Act.
