Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati   

Police, animal rights activists save cattle

Staff Reporter

Lorries bound for slaughterhouse in Kottayam intercepted

PLAYING SAVIOURS: Police rescued four lorry loads of cattle, on their way to a slaughterhouse in Kerala, at Chittoor on Monday. -- Photo: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar

TIRUPATI: Some 93 heads of cattle, on their way to a slaughterhouse in Kottayam in Kerala, were rescued by the district police and animal rights activists at Palamaner in the early hours of Monday. Seventeen persons were arrested and produced before the Palamaner court.

The lorries were on their way from Nandyal in Kurnool district to a renowned slaughterhouse in Kottayam. Though such `meaty consignments' heading towards Kerala is a routine affair, the district police succeeded in intercepting them on Monday.

In fact, the policemen and animal welfare activists who had been keeping a watch at Kallur checkpost since four days turned their attention towards Palamaner after scenting a possible change in their route, that ultimately yielded results.

Such lorries are found to be regularly taking the Madanapalle-Palamaner stretch of the National Highway to enter Gudiyattham in Tamil Nadu from where they go further south to reach Kerala.

Badly bruised

Many of the animals, mercilessly herded into four lorries at the rate of 20-25 each, had severe bruises and were desperate for breath when they were rescued and shifted to a `Goshala' in Tirupati. Some animals were found crushed under the feet of others.

"The animals would have been slaughtered and the meat and hide sold had they not been rescued today," said Krishna Rao, a member of the Andhra Pradesh State Cow Protection and Animal Preservation Committee, which was instrumental in rescuing the animals.

The bleeding animals would be provided shelter at the Goshala, run under the direct supervision of the Collector, till the Government takes a decision on their next destination.

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