TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Slaughtering of cattle took place peacefully at Goa Meat Complex (GMC), Usgao-Ponda, on Wednesday with strong police protection, while animal lovers continued to protest demanding a law to ban cattle slaughter in the State.
According to reports, veterinary doctors at GMC rejected one of the five bulls that were brought for slaughter on Wednesday citing underage. However, the move according to Govansha Rakshya Abhiyan (GRA) is just eyewash.
It may be recalled that tension ran high at the GMC on Tuesday, when 10 bulls were brought for slaughter in the presence of a police force a day ahead of the Eid celebrations.
According to information, on this day as a sacrifice, cattle are slaughtered and the State government had made arrangements for the purpose at GMC.
“Doctors at GMC, who certified bulls, said one was rejected as it was below 12 years. But we are of the opinion that all the bulls which were brought since Tuesday are healthy and many are underage,” GRA President Hanumant Parab told media outside the GMC.
“We have already filed a police complaint against the concerned for violating High Court directives and we will also bring this to the notice of the High Court,” informed Parab.
Ponda police informed that the matter will be referred to their superiors for opinion and accordingly action will be taken.
Parab had raised the issue during the ante-mortem on Tuesday and also on Wednesday. “I have raised my objection pertaining to various other violations by the authorities. We now don’t trust the government. The judiciary is our only hope for justice,” stated Parab.
Since Tuesday, several policemen were posted in and around GMC to prevent any untoward incident following reports of law and order problem.
Incidentally on Monday, various members from NGOs began agitating demanding ban of cattle slaughter, which forced the State government to invoke Section 144 within the radius of 1 km from GMC for seven days. However, NGO members continued their protest at Tisk-Usgao,
one kilometre away from GMC.
Accept for Tuesday’s incident, where two volunteers from a NGO were detained for allegedly violating Section 144, the situation on Wednesday remained peaceful. “In all, 60 policemen are deployed in the area and the situation is peaceful,” said PI Patil.
