Following PETA India’s Plea, Mizoram Police Enforce Law Prohibiting Illegal Animal Sacrifices Ahead of Bakr-Eid
After PETA India sent a letter to Mizoram’s director general of police requesting that all possible measures be taken to stop the illegal transport and killing of animals in the lead-up to Bakr-Eid, the state’s police headquarters issued an order to its senior officials directing them to ensure that illegal animal sacrifices don’t occur in the state, as was also advised by the Animal Welfare Board of India in its 18 June circular.
In our letter, we pointed out that on two matters regarding the sacrifice and killing of animals for meat, the Supreme Court ruled that animals can be slaughtered only in officially licensed slaughterhouses and that municipal authorities must ensure compliance with this ruling. Central government laws permit the slaughter of animals only in registered or licensed slaughterhouses equipped with species-specific stunning equipment. While the killing of camels for meat is prohibited in India, the practice is prevalent during Bakr-Eid. In addition, laws related to transporting animals are frequently violated during the festival.
Thousands of goats, buffaloes, camels, and other animals are killed during festivals such as Bakr-Eid, which will take place on 31 July and 1 August this year.
Common illegal practices during these holidays include cramming animals into severely crowded lorries – which routinely causes them to suffocate and sustain broken bones – beating animals to keep them moving while marching them to the place of sacrifice, and slaughter by untrained people who slit animals’ throats with dull knives in full view of other animals and often in front of traumatised children who want to protect them.
All religions call for compassion, while none requires killing or eating animals. Hacking animals to death with weapons is extremely cruel. We commend the Mizoram police for its life-saving action, which will protect thousands of animals from illegal slaughter.
Here’s what you can do about animal sacrifice:
