NONGPOH, Feb 28: A group of animal-welfare activists, on Saturday night conducted a surprise checking to detect cruelty meted out to cattle at the Khanapara cattle market in Ri Bhoi.
The activists from ‘People for Animals, India’ and the ‘Gau Gyan Foundation’ then informed the Assam Police about the movement of a truck transporting around 24 cattle heads from the market to Shillong.
The truck (ML10C 5592) was later apprehended by the police personnel from Jorabat Police Outpost.
During checking, it was discerned that the truck driver did not possess valid documents for transporting cattle.
Bangalore-based animal-welfare activist, Joshine Antony, who led the surprise checking, alleged that one of the cows in the apprehended truck was injured albeit the medical certificates issued by the veterinary doctor of the Khanapara cattle market testified that the cattle were healthy.
The activist further alleged that the certificates were fake.
She also stated that as per rules, only six cattle are supposed to be allowed in each truck.
But the truck reportedly carried more than 20 of them, thereby violating provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
She also alleged that the cattle were not properly fed during transportation, which clearly shows that they are blatantly violating statutory laws.
Later, the group also made phone calls to Meghalaya Police urging them to conduct a check at the market.
The police then seized as many as 371 cattle heads and apprehended 10 trucks from market, following which the market was also closed down.
Antony alleged that thousands of cattle were being transported from this market on a daily basis, which is more than the requirements of Meghalaya as a state, which clearly highlights that the cattle are illegally being smuggled to Bangladesh.
An FIR was also filed with the Khanapara Police Outpost in the matter.