Timely intervention of officials saved the lives of about 35 oxen which were kept ready for slaughter in one of the streets here on Wednesday. Tension prevailed in Kondapallivari street of Jampeta area here when revenue and municipal officials along with Cow Protection Committee members -- mostly from BJP, VHP and ABVP -- arrived to stop the slaughter in residential areas. It all started on Wednesday morning when some residents of Kondapallivari street, noticed “cow slaughter” in a vacant place in a crowded residential area. They raised an objection over the slaughter and asked some people from the minority community to stop it. However, when the slaughter continued and more oxen were brought, the residents rushed to seek the help of revenue and municipal officials. M. Venugopal Reddy, Revenue Divisional Officer who got the information alerted the police, municipal and his department officials. The police officer on special duty, Mr. Suryanarayana Murthy, DSP Anil Kumar along with municipal health official M.S.N. Murthy and Revenue Inspectors rushed to the spot. “I was first informed that some 14 cows were slaughtered and some more were kept ready to be slaughtered by butchers in Jampeta area. The Municipal Commissioner was asked to send his team to look into the matter,”said RDO Mr. Venugopal Reddy.
A sensitive issue
When contacted, Mr. Murthy said that he found about 25 oxen out of which 10 were already slaughtered by youth who belonged to minority community. “It was only rumour that cows were butchered. No cow was there and I saw all oxen, but slaughtering in public place without permission is crime,” he added.
Ramesh, Inspector of Police, three-town police station said that being a sensitive issue, they did not book any case till evening and were waiting for the report from Municipal Commissioner. However, he said that cases will be booked under Cruelty towards Animals and Birds Act of 1932 for slaughtering in public place.
On the other hand, the Cow Protection Committee members, Neelam Seshagiri, Karri Srinivas, Bhamidipalli Ananth, BJP leader G. Chittibabu and A. Vijayadurga, alleged that cows were slaughtered and police and municipal officials tried to dilute the case.
