PANAJI
The seizure of 400 kg of beef at the Mollem check post early Monday morning has uncovered a clandestine smuggling operation with an even more disturbing revelation -- the meat being smuggled under the guise of ‘buffalo’ is allegedly from bulls, whose slaughter is banned in Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Despite growing calls for forensic tests to verify the claims, the process remains stalled due to the State’s reluctance to bear Rs 15,000 cost per sample along with additional fees for sending them to the forensic lab in Hyderabad. Sources said that this financial burden appears to be the government’s main reason for inaction.
“There have been several cases where activists have assisted the police and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services staff to intercept vehicles illegally transporting beef from neighbouring States. There are suspicions that what is being brought in is not beef, but bulls; slaughter of which is prohibited in both Karnataka and Maharashtra where these cattle are worshipped,” a senior official at Secretariat told The Goan.
“Rs 15,000 per sample test is expensive, which is why not a single test of the seized meat has been undertaken in the recent past,” he added.
Sources further said that buffalos are legally slaughtered under hygienic conditions at the Goa Meat Complex (GMC) despite which there is dependence on the neighbouring States.
“When these smuggled slaughtered animals are seized, it’s evident the slaughtering process was not hygienically carried out. In any case, if the beef is legally brought into Goa, why it is not processed at GMC where the slaughter of she-buffaloes is allowed?” the source added.
The official, in the know of the nexus, further stated that violators bring in meat which is certified as She buffalo but the fact is that these are illegal and unhygienically slaughtered bulls.
“These cattle are slaughtered in the backyard in very filthy conditions and there is no medical check before slaughtering. Sometimes sick animals, about to die, are slaughtered. These reach consumers through this illegal nexus,” he stated.
Animal rights activists intercepted a van at the Mollem check post carrying illegal beef from Karnataka on Monday a day after another consignment was seized. President of Govansh Raksha Abhiyan Hanumanth Parab, who tipped off the authorities, expressed frustration at the police’s failure to act.
“I complained on the 112 helpline regarding illegal beef transport, but the police did nothing. There's rampant illegality, and still the authorities are failing to act. Earlier this month, I raised concerns about illegal cattle slaughter in Margao, where ghee is being produced and distributed to hotels,” Parab said, speaking to The Goan.
He also demanded examining the seized beef stating, “there is a need to send the seized meat for confirmation because we have strong doubts these are legally slaughtered or hygienically transported.”
Had it not been for the intervention of Goa State Animal Welfare Board activists, vehicles allegedly illegally transporting beef would have gone unnoticed. The activists have alleged that the South Goa police did not take their tip-off seriously.
President of Govansh Raksha Abhiyan Hanumant Parab claimed that the police initially failed to act on the information.
Official sources said that details of three such vehicles were shared with the authorities for immediate action.
"Activists tipped off the Department of Animal Husbandry, and the message was passed to the South Goa police through proper channel. Department staff were deployed at Chorla Ghat and the police were informed," the official source said.
However, the vehicles did not arrive at night but entered in the morning. The source further informed that the vehicles entered through the Mollem checkpost between 10:15 am and 10:45 am.
