Illegal cattle trafficking seems going rampant under the very nose of police across Odisha if a complaint of an Honourary Animal Welfare Officer (HAWO) of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) is believed to be true.
HAWO Deepti Mahajan filed a petition before DGP RP Sharma in which he narrated how he found over a thousand of cattle being trafficked and his FIR was not registered properly by Gunupur police in Rayagada district and thus no stringent action could be taken against culprits.
It may be noted here that AWBI Secretary has already issued letters to State/UT DGPs to issue directions to thoroughly investigate crimes reported by HAWOs and to provide necessary protection and support to them. The Orissa High Court has asked concerned authorities to follow steps and projects framed by the AWBI.
Mahajan informed the DGP that he, while travelling from Rayagada to Bhubaneswar via Gunupur town along with his lawyer friend Tirtha Kumar Sahu, saw a over a thousand of cattle in 14 herds (each having 70 to 80 numbers of cattle) being trafficked through Gunupru junction, Court lane and in front of the new Gunupur police station. While all cattle were marked with either cross or tick marks, each herd was being guided by five persons. Cowherds were beating and piercing the innocent animals mercilessly, he mentioned in the petition.
He further informed that a trafficker told him that all cattle were being transported for slaughter purposes. He then submitted a written complaint with the Gunupur PS IIC after which the latter detained 41 numbers of cattle and three traffickers. Police found that the three accused had not possessed any document for transportation and for slaughter of the cattle.
Mahajan said the bullocks were bleeding while in custody in the police station.
“The police official made us sit in the PS for hours from 2 am to 12 pm. IIC Panigrahi didn’t book the culprits under appropriate sectionos the law. No sections are foisted on the culprits, regarding maiming of cattle and for theft, even while there was prima facie evidence for the same. He also didn’t record my statement and other witnesses’ statements,” Mahajan mentioned.
Mahajan urged the DGP to direct all concerned authorities to investigate crimes reported by HAWOs and to provide necessary protection to them. He also urged Sharma to take departmental action against the Gunupur PS IIC for violating the Prevention to Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act.
Besides, the HAWO requested that the case lodged by him be investigated fairly as per law and direct investigation officer to send the seized cattle to nearest Gaushala or to nearest Animal Welfare organisation.