Defying the prohibitory orders imposed by the district administration, once again animal killing took place much to the chagrin of animal lovers at the tribal festival Sulia Yatra in the district.

This year the district administration clamped prohibitory orders in six places including Badkhala, Saankhala, Khairguda, besides three other places in the district. However, notwithstanding the scanning of the administration, the police and the media, hundreds of animals including goat, buffalo, cock and other animals were killed at Badkhala and other places on Tuesday by the tribal devotees before their presiding deity.

Every year on second Tuesday of Paush month, Sulia Yatra is observed near Khairguda village in Deogaon block, 30km from here. The spot is popularly known as Badkhala. However, the animal sacrifice is also executed in a few adjoining places. A few years back, some rationalists had approached the Odisha High Court seeking a ban on killing of animals in Sulia venues and the court had imposed a ban and asked the district administration to take measures to stop the cruelty to animals in the festival.

However, according to sources, no awareness drive was held by the district administration this year as it used to do in past. Moreover, activists opposing the animal killing at Sulia have been somewhat inactive since last few years. Only at the last minute, the prohibitory orders were imposed by the district administration, which was breached easily by the people. Many also viewed it as eyewash.

Police personnel including three Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) were deployed at the place. Asked to comment on the tribals displaying their weapons and killing animals in violation of the prohibitory orders, SDPO NarayanNaik said the guilty would be taken to task. “Animal sacrifice at the altar of tribal deity in Suliaa Jatra is a part and parcel of tribal customs. We are proud of our tradition and would stand by it come what may. We are least bothered about what the administration does,” said Balangir Zilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangh president Braja Kishore Singhbhoi.