Ahead of the festival of Eid-ul-Adha, popularly known as Bakra Eid, the Union Territory administration in Jammu & Kashmir has issued orders banning illegal killings/sacrifices of cows, calves, camels and other animals. The festival of Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated during July 21-23 across Jammu & Kashmir.
The ban on the illegal killings/sacrifices of cows, calves and camels has been communicated by the Director of Planning, J&K Animal/Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries Department, to Divisional Commissioner, Jammu & Kashmir, and IGP, Jammu & Kashmir.
Referring to an official letter from the Animal Welfare Board of India, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, the communication reads, “In this regard, large numbers of sacrificial animals are likely to be slaughtered in the UT of J&K during Bakra Eid festival scheduled from 21-23 July, 2021 & the Animal Welfare Board of India, in view of animal welfare, has requested for implementation of all precautionary measures to strictly implement the Animal Welfare Laws viz. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960; Transport of Animal Welfare Rules, 1978; Transport of Animals (Amendment) Rules, 2001; Slaughter House Rules, 2001; Municipal Laws & Food Safety & Standards Authority of India directions for slaughtering of animals (under which camels cannot be slaughtered) during the festival.”
The senior officer of the Animal/Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries Department has also requested the Divisional Commissioners of Jammu/Kashmir to take all preventive measures as per the provisions of the acts and rules for implementation of the animal welfare laws in order to stop illegal killing of animals and to take stringent action against the offenders violating animal welfare laws.