The State administration would be on toes to avert any incident of communal tension in the State during Bakrid this year in the wake of Government’s resolve to not allow anyone violate the laws protecting animal sacrifice. A notice issued by the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry department warned people of legal action if the laws are violated.
The notice states that sacrifice, sale, purchase, gathering and transportation of bovine animals and camel etc is a cognisable offence. And, the violators could be arrested under various sections of laws, including IPC, PCA, FSSA. The Government through the notice has appealed common people to inform their nearest police station if they come across any such criminal activity.
However, the notice seems to have created further confusion and fear among minority community as it is apprehensive of being subjected to ‘targeting’ in the name of laws. “The Government notice talks about bovine animals, camel etc. We know there is law against killing bovine animals. We are also against it but what about camel and etc. In the name of ‘etc.’ one can be easily framed under the laws,” said Mohammad Shahid of Muslim Yuva Manch.
“It is absolutely not clear as to which animals could be sacrificed and which could not. The common man does not know the provisions of the laws. We even do not have any information on the bylaws made in the State under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. If someone sacrifices an animal out of mere ignorance and is later arrested on violating some rules, how will one deal with it. We have talked to the Ranchi district administration about this but there is no satisfactory answer,” Shahid added.
On the other hand, the administration is gearing up to conduct raids in godowns, warehouses, market places where banned animals are kept or sold. The Ranchi district administration has formed squads to conduct raids and the team will have to immediately disseminate information about incident like seizure and arrest to the officials at the State Headquarter.
“These squads will be active and will conduct a checking drive at the bordering areas predominately from where the animals are being trade illegally or else being brought for consumption. As soon as, the team members observe something suspicious, the squads will immediately seize the animals, registering a case against the offenders,” said ADM (law and order), Ranchi, Girija Shankar Prasad.
At district level, Executive Magistrate, Under Divisional Animal Husbandry Officer of Sadar including the Officer-in-Charges (OCs) of respective police stations has been given the responsibility to seize all illegal go-downs, warehouses, market places where banned animals are kept or sold. Similarly, at block level, Circle Officer (CO), block Animal Husbandry officer including station in-charges will keep a check on the activities of the people.
However, rejecting any apprehensions of communal tension, State Police Spokesperson and ADG (Operations) RK Mallick said that there is no special security arrangement during Bakrid and corresponding festival this year and people are free to celebrate the festivals happily as long as they do not violate any sort of laws of the land.
“People are aware of the laws and there is absolutely no apprehension of any tension. One can happily celebrate the festivals under the laws without hurting sentiments of other communities. The police will act under the laws and orders of the Supreme Court that prohibit sacrifice of animals,” Mallick said.
The situation has arisen, especially after the government put a blanket ban on illegal slaughterhouse and meat shops across the State back in March this year. Virtually all the butcheries and meat shops were closed in the State for over 3 months till some of them were given licenses.
Jharkhand has also come in bad light recently after several lynching incidents have occurred where mobs have killed people on suspicion of being illegal meat traders or bovine animal traffickers.
