SAMIR UMARYE
BICHOLIM
Illegal slaughter of a cow and a calf along with some other animals at Nagzarwada-Bicholim has stirred up a hornet’s nest with the people demanding immediate demolition of the shed used for the purpose, and openly blaming Bicholim Municipal Council (BMC) for supporting the trade.
Even though the recent incident of cow slaughter at Nagzarwada recently seems new to some, the NGOs and some councillors have deferred with this opinion and claim it to be one among many illegal acts carried out by the Bepari community.
On Thursday, NGOs along with the police raided a slaughter house at Nagarwada-Bicholim and seized beef late evening.
“A rickshaw transported the animals to the slaughter house at Nagarwada in the evening. Acting on a tip-off, we raided the slaughter house and accordingly informed the Bicholim police, who rushed to the site and seized over 500 kgs of beef from the premises,” Animal Rescue Squad chief Amrut Singh said.
What escalated the situation was the fact that the medical report confirmed that the animals that were slaughtered included a cow and a two-year-old calf. “It is illegal to slaughter animals except at the Goa Meat Complex, but such illegalities are carried out throughout the State,” Amrut Singh said. He claimed, “We are not against beef trade, but we are against illegal slaughter which is being carried out in the State just to earn extra money.”
After the incident, the NGOs filed a police complaint and demanded that the deputy collector should immediately demolish the structure where the slaughter took place. “BMC has issued licence to the owner to sell beef and not to slaughter animals at the place. The residents including some people of the minority community from the area were fed up with the foul smell, but no one came forward openly just because they don’t want to spoil their relations with the owner,” Singh said.
When contacted, BMC councillor Kamlakan Teli said the controversial site was being contested since 2008 when the first raid was carried out there.
“I had strongly objected to the shed and it was resolved during the BMC meeting on March 10, 2008, to demolish the illegal structure and terminate the agreement with the trader. But again the topic came up for discussion on January 23, 2009, with the trader applying for repairs. Even this move was objected to but despite of this he got the licence. It is probably because some councillors are with the trader,” Teli stated.
Bharat Swabhiman Chief Kamlesh Bandekar expressed surprise over BMC’s apathy to demolish the structure since last six years. “BMC authorities are hand-in-glove with the illegal traders and that is the reason why such illegalities are being continued since last several years,” Bandekar claimed.
Ex-councillor of BMC Bhagwan Harmalkar charged the government and said the government is trying to support illegalities under the name of minorities.
“Are there no minority communities in other states? Even in Goa there are many from minority community who don’t allow such illegalities as it is equally dangerous for their health. The animals which are slaughtered illegally could have serious disease which could harm the beef eater,” Harmalkar said.
The NGOs have now strongly asked BMC to follow the rules and the resolutions passed during the meeting and have also warned that they would take law into their hand and demolish the structure if no action comes forth from the authorities.
