SHILLONG: The state government has asked all superintendents of police to ensure that illegal animal sacrifices do not take place in the state as was also advised by the Animal Welfare Board of India in its July 20 circular.
The direction comes after intervention by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India that had sent a letter to Meghalaya’s chief secretary, DGP and the director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary requesting them to take measures to stop illegal transport and killing of animals in the lead-up to Bakrid.
“All religions call for compassion, no religion requires killing or eating animals and hacking animals to death with weapons is just plain cruel,” says PETA India Emergency Response Coordinator Meet Ashar.
The official also said states have a duty to uphold and enforce India’s animal-protection laws, and PETA is calling on authorities to prohibit untrained people from cutting animals’ throats in the street.
In its letter, the animal rights organisation pointed out that through orders dated February 17, 2017, and April 10, 2017, on two matters regarding the sacrifice and killing of animals for meat, the Supreme Court had ruled that animals can be slaughtered only in officially licensed slaughterhouses and that municipal authorities must ensure compliance with this ruling.
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001, and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, permit slaughter of animals for food only at registered or licensed slaughterhouses equipped with species-specific stunning equipment.
The Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, prohibit killing camels for meat, a practice prevalent during Bakrid and the Transport of Animals Rules, 1978, are also frequently thwarted during the festival.
