Cow - West Bengal : west Bengal - Illegal Sacrifice, Slaughter and Smuggling of Cow and Cattle -A report

West Bengal – A Report on illegal Sacrifice, Slaughter & Smuggling of Cow and Cattle

West Bengal is known for Rich cultural heritage, Sacrifices in Freedom Movement and Compassion to speechless animals. State with 92 million population, 20 Districts, 66, Sub divisions, 120 Municipalities, 6 Municipal corporations, 341Mandal, 40782 villages, 456 police stations, 3354 Gram panchayat, and as per 2012 Live Stock Census with 16.05 million Cow progeny, 0.6 million buffalo stock is a leading milk producing source in the nation. Bordering with Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand, Assam, Arunachal, Sikkim states of India and International borders of Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal with large coastal and river sources West Bengal is known industrial and commercial centre which served as Indian Capital in British regime.

Visible Change in social and political scenario was seen after the emerging of Bangladesh. Cheap Vote politics fall on speechless animals as a curse, when the government tried to permit the sacrifice of Healthy Cow on a particular function called Baqur Eid and this goes on unchecked during other period too. Cow lover citizens objected and moved to honorable Kolkata High Court who turned down government decision. Bengal Govt. preferred appeal to Hon’ble Supreme Court and after long arguments Hon’ble Supreme Court also upheld the decision of Kolkata Hon’ble high court.Still the Government was not keen in spite of several representations so animal lovers again moved to Kolkata high court and it has become ritual every year without any success

This heinous crime is also a issue even bigger than independence rather keeping the independent India intact. If Union and State government Acts & Rules ensure complete safety, compassion to speechless animal.Then why every year 2 million+ poor speechless Cows are killed on bakar id occasion or other days. I visited Kolkata one week before Bakar id when whole Bengal was celebrating Durga Puja. On one side Pandals with beautiful decoration were attracting visitors from whole world and on the other side Healthy Cows were in illegal transported from different parts of

nation. Temporary Khatals (Markets) on road side were seen full with livestock in violation of West Bengal Cattle Licensing Act, West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act and many other Union Acts and Rules. Animal lovers were busy in stopping Trucks carrying Cattle but were facing West Bengal Government’s writ supporting illegal activities .

The matter was perused with H.E Governor and others. H.E. Governor Sri Kesarinath Tirpathi gave the patient hearing and directed Chief Minister office to do the needful in the matter. But I was in tears on watching the merciless condition of ‘ Kamadhenu’ Gaumata even near the residence of Respected Chief Minister., Thousands of Healthy Cows were standing on roads in makeshift khatals without any water or fodder. Vehicles loaded with Cattle were seen running without fear on Kolkata roads of course after crossing so many Districts and Check posts. Services of Detective agency were hired who have provided drastic picture of Kolkata in particular and of whole Bengal in general.

Slaughter of Cattle - Illegal - brutal - unhygienic - Cruel estimated to 7 million/ year . Illegal unhygienic slaughter houses were seen functioning under the nose of all concerned Government Departments. Places like Tengda with Municipal slaughter house are source of spreading virus, infection and disease. Whole sanitation system looks chocked violating CPCB norms and Honorable Supreme Court directions. A fair estimate say more than 60-70 lakh Cattle are slaughtered every year in West Bengal. This quantity generate not less than 15 Lakh MT solid waste and immeasurable water waste.

No Ante Mortem or Post mortem is in existence compelling meat eater to consume illicit, unhygienic meet violating all fundamental consumer rights.

Illegal smuggling of speechless Cattle – estimated to 12 million/ year .

West Bengal - Bangladesh border is heaven for smugglers but hell for Cow and Cattle My visit

to border reveled the real position and confirmed that Millions of Cattle are smuggled.

Of course role of corrupt, negligent, fearing officials is also playing a major role in this big organized crime where less then 0.5% of Cattle in smuggling is stopped and confiscated and normally Without any arrest, further investigation and instant repair of broken wire barriers.

Cattle are Purchased at origin average @ Rs. 5,000/- or say RS.60 billion and Transportation cost @ Rs.3,000/- ( 30-40 Cattle seen loaded in a truck & per truck Rs.1,00 Lakh ) so 36 billion Bribe and other cost @ 2,000/- per Cattle or say RS.24 billion makes total cost to RS. 120 billion (including cost of confiscated 0.5% Cattle).

The average realization per Cattle from Bangladesh is estimated @ RS.35,000/- per Cattle or say 420 billion. The profit of 30,000 Crore / year is going in the hands of Smugglers , and told to be used in anti national activities.

The discussion with BSF officials was shocking. They don't have firing power and only non-lethal weapons can be used.

They don't have powers to book FIR and confiscation made by them are registered by Local State Police. Smuggler with Cattle even coming up to last point can not be touched in name of raring.

Cattle seized are handed over to Custom authorities who auction cattle and same smuggler get back at peanut price to people who again sell these for again smuggling.

We were surprised to see the Price List Dt. Sept. 2013 of Custom Authorities reproduced here

as under:

Haryana origin

Big size RS.11800/-

Medium size RS.11300/-

Small size RS. 9700/-

Bengali Origin

Big Size RS. 9600/-

Med. Size RS. 7600/-

Small Size RS. 6300/-

Rathi Origin

Big Size RS. 6300/-

Med, size RS. 5600/-

Small Size RS. 4400/-

Cow Calf

Big size RS. 1800/-

Suckling RS. 1200/-

Cow Milking Variety 2900/-

Above price list confirms that Cow are transported from Haryana, Punjab Rajasthan in large number and on regular basis. It also shows the low price of auction and also violation of Honorable Supreme Court directions against the auction and also to provide custody to AWOs. It smells as a big racket with hand shake with authorities:

· Mafia controls the border. A name is very famous 'Bariq bhai' in the are who is behind the bars but operating from inside.

· The Cattle smuggling has become lucrative source of income for local residents unknowingly as they accept, park and deliver these Cattle at right time to smugglers and save them by providing safe shelter.

· Cattle coming illegally from Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana etc were seen in plenty which can be stopped at West Bengal borders.

· Trucks unload these Cattle at places known as Muslim Pada and in night in escort with weapons comes near the buffer and poke nail type needle ( SUA) mercilessly and poor cattle jump and crosses app 150 MTR wide buffer and collected in Bangladesh on other side.

· Bangladesh officials legalize its ownership. by charging Taka 500/- . The racket is so large that slaughterhouses on the other side of border are running on Indian livestock and earning huge foreign exchange by export of Beef, Leather and other products. The Gulf Countries Like beef from a Muslim Country.

· The estimated income of thousands of Crores is used in anti national activities and financing extremists.

This is happening at hundreds of Check posts attracting Union and State government’s immediate and meaningful attention and action not only at Indo – Bangla borders but at originating markets in different STATES, Regulating Rail and Road transportation from these States like Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarpradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa & West Bengal etc and implementing Indian Motor Vehicle Act, Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, Cow Slaughter Prevention Acts of these States, IPC 429 etc

At the Border -It can be stopped ONLY when

1.BSF is given firing power and 3/5 Kilometer area along the border in BSF control instead of

Local Police.

2.Interstate Animal Check posts at Bihar- Jharkhand - Orissa etc Borders with West Bengal be

constituted with strong implementation of Transport Act and other rules.

3.Cattle Markets near these borders and den working as storage, be cracked down and particularly

near Bengal-

Bangladesh

border.

4.Livestock enumeration with ownership photographs, identification shall be made with periodical

checks by BSF with in at least 5 Kilometer from border

5.Custom authorities be directed to stop on site auction of confiscated Cattle. which shall be given

to Animal Welfare organisations / Goshala /Pinjrapoles or be shifted to at least other States.

6. A committee be constituted with officials from BSF, Custom, West Bengal police, Transport,

Animal Husbandry , AWBI etc & Animal Activists and representatives of West Bengal Gaushala Federation to jointly inspect, discuss, suggest and implement the required decision to stop drainage of precious Cattle wealth.

7.Special teams Of Animal Welfare Volunteers with proven track record, may be constituted with Powers under sec.34 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act1960 and powers u/s 96 of transport of Cattle Rules 2001 in states which has been identified in this report. Dependence on Govt. Departments to work for Welfare of Animals, on their own, has yielded No results.

There are many other suggestions which can be discussed across the table. Some Pics are added to this report to authenticate this.

In service to speechless animals