FIR on cruelty in transporting camels

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/fir-on-cruelty-in-transporting-camels/199891-60-120.html

CHENNAI: The Saidapet police on Sunday registered a first information report following a complaint from the Blue Cross of India alleging illegal transportation of camels in a cruel way. The Blue Cross intercepted a truck carrying 12 camels being taken to places in the city allegedly for sacrifice ahead of Bakrid.

According to Dawn Williams, general manager, Blue Cross of India, Chennai, they traced a truck carrying 12 camels on Mount Round and followed it up to East Jones Road, Saidapet on Saturday midnight. “We received information that they were transporting 15 camels but we found 12. I tried to stop them but the local people were making it communal and spoke about religion. Our sole purpose is to save the animals,” the GM said.

The Blue Cross action followed the letter sent by the Animal Welfare Board on November 3 to seize camels brought illegally to several places in the state. A copy of the letter had been sent to Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu, the FIR said.

When Blue Cross representatives questioned the truck driver Narasimma, he had allegedly told them that the truck was arriving straight from Rajasthan with the camels and that six camels each were supposed to be delivered at Saidapet and Nethaji Nagar, near Ennore. “Firstly, there was no permit to transport the animals, secondly it was overloaded and they were all bound and bundled up. They shoved out two camels from the truck in front of us. The animals were travelling for the past five days without food or water,” Dawn Williams claimed.

Soon, Blue Cross members called the police to the spot, who asked them to lodge a complaint. But the truck and its driver escaped from the spot when the Blue Cross members were at Saidapet police station to lodge the complaint around 5 am, they claimed.

The members had also visited Nethaji Nagar, near Ennore, where camels were kept. “But we wanted to focus on one issue, so we lodged a complaint at Saidapet. The purpose of the complaint and the police filing an FIR is to create awareness that it had happened. Even if the government allows slaughtering of camels in the future, at least transporting them should be better,” the GM added.

Saidapet police, who have filed an FIR under sections 11 (d) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and 429 IPC, said they would investigate in the event of cruelty. “If there was cruelty, we will trace the truck,” said NS Kumar, inspector, Saidapet police station.

Animal sacrifice to celebrate?

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/animal-sacrifice-to-celebrate/178652-60-121.html

HYDERABAD: During the holy month, Muslims parade a camel through streets before it is sacrificed on the first Friday of Ramadan in Hyderabad.Though illegal, this tradition has been happening in the city for quite some time now. Camel meat is considered to be a delicacy.These camels are brought into the city from Rajasthan, especially for this season. They are fed sumptuously before they are chopped down.
 

The various camel delicacies include the camel meat sheek, chops and paya. Syed Abdul Khadir, a resident of Kachiguda says, “This whole concept of camel sacrifice has been set by our Lord. We perform this mainly during Bakrid and we also follow this tradition during Ramzan.” He further adds that, “Many people make a lot of prior arrangements for bringing the camels from places like Rajasthan, after which we say our prayers and then the camel is cut.

It’s like a feast for us at the beginning of the festival.” Though there has not been a widespread protest over this issue, there are a few organisations, which have raised their voice against this.
 
One such organisation is People For Animals. Talking about the protest over this issue, Vasanthi Vadi, founder secretary, People For Animals, Hyderabad, alleges, “This particular camel sacrifice is not just violating the animal rights act, but it is also violating the GHMC act, which says one can kill animals for food only in slaughter houses, designated by the GHMC and not on the streets.

 Camel sacrifice in Kashmir

When there is a law, and when the government has introduced it, everyone must respect and follow it.” She further adds, “These animals are not transported, but are walked down from far off places and extreme climatic conditions.This is not suitable for animals, and it should not be acceptable by any of us.

We should learn to value our animals as well.” “We are very much against the issue and have complained to the higher authorities, the wildlife department and also the police. But, no action has been taken yet. The issue is being shelved off, labelling it as a communal and a sensitive issue and prone to riots,” she says.
 

But, according to Vineet Brijlal, deputy commissioner of police, South Zone, no such event was reported to him. However, the veterinary doctors do feel that people should get over these customs and beliefs for protecting animals. Dr Anjaiah, deputy director at a super speciality veterinary clinic says, “It is not good to sacrifice animals for some old beliefs and traditions.
People should stop killing animals as a reason to celebrate over them.”