Raid exposes illegal slaughterhouse at Khareband, family booked by cops

A police personnel at the house where the animal slaughter was taking place. (Right) The containers with animal fat found in the premises..

Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar

MARGAO
The controversy surrounding the use of animal fat, which has made headlines in Andhra Pradesh due to its alleged use in ladoos at the Tirupati Temple, has now surfaced in Margao.

A raid conducted by members of Hindu outfit Bajrang Dal on Monday at a residential place at Khareband unearthed around 41 containers filled with animal fat. The raid also brought to the fore questions of the alleged slaughter of animals at the place.

The Bajrang Dal activists with the help of officials of the Animal Husbandry and Margao police rescued two animals. Bajrang Dal leader Viraj Desai informed that when they entered the premises, they came across 41 20-kg containers with animal fat. “We also found weapons used for the slaughter of animals,” he said.

Desai demanded that the government authorities conduct a detailed probe into the business of extracting animal fat from the premises and the sale of the fat.

Meanwhile, upon a complaint lodged by Bhagwan Redkar, the Margao police registered an offence against the accused person Aslam Bepari and his family members, all residents of Sirvodem, near Quba Masjid, Khareband, Margao. The police stated that the accused were found in illegal possession of two bulls and allegedly involved in the illegal business of slaughtering of cows/bulls, which are scheduled animals, thereby committing mischief by slaughtering of cows for preparation of cow fat for sale in an illegal slaughterhouse in the residential house, thereby causing cruelty to the animals.

Besides offences registered under the BNS, the police have invoked provisions of The Goa Animal Preservation Act and Sections 3, 5 and 8 of The Goa Daman and Diu Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act. and section 11 (1) of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.