A group of beef traders gheraoed an Assistant Commissioner of the Tiruchi Corporation at a slaughterhouse in the city on Saturday, when he arrived there to inform them about the Centre’s ban on sale of cattle for slaughter.
Ariyamangalam zonal Assistant Commissioner S. Vaithiyanathan faced the wrath of the traders when he drew the attention of the contractor entrusted with the operation of the slaughterhouse to the Centre’s notification. A group reportedly took objection to his remarks, claiming that there was no clarity on the rules. They demanded that the officer produce a written order. The official then left the spot and operations at the slaughterhouse continued.
Speaking to mediapersons later, some traders alleged that the official had ordered the closure of the slaughterhouse and its gates. But Corporation officials denied this. “There was no move to close the slaughterhouse. The officer’s visit was meant only to inform the traders about the Centre’s notification,” clarified N. Ravichandran, Special Officer-cum-Commissioner, Tiruchi Corporation.
About 40 heads of cattle are slaughtered on an average every day at the abattoir. The number rises during holidays and festive occasions.
“Nearly 5,000 families are dependent on this trade and all of them will be rendered jobless,” claimed Chan Bhai, a trader. Farmers sell their cattle only after they stop giving milk, grow old or become infirm. The cattle are slaughtered only after obtaining due certification from veterinarians, traders contend.
Activists’ allegations
The slaughterhouse recently ran into a controversy after animal rights activists alleged that cows and calves were being slaughtered at the abattoir. Photographs and video recordings were released on social media, purportedly showing cows tethered on the slaughterhouse campus on March 28.
The activists contended that only buffaloes were permitted to be slaughtered at the facility. Despite a complaint, the police and the Corporation failed to initiate action, they alleged.
