Despite ban, camel meat business thrives in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Camels are being bought and sold for their meat openly in Hyderabad. An example of this is the camel selling point near Golnaka where policemen can be seen seated just 50 meters away.

Another camel market is in Gudimalkapur. While camels are sold live here, in many parts of the city, especially old city, camel meat is sold openly.

The trade gains ground during Ramzan and demand peaks during Bakrid. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued a directive in 2014 that as per the FSS Act slaughter of any animal which is not an ovine, carpine, bovine, suilline, poultry or fish is prohibited.

Camel does not fall under any of these categories. A camel owner from MP said that camels can fetch anywhere between Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 depending on age, build and looks. The camel seller said, “A young white camel with good looks is what customers desire. Such a camel aged about four will cost about Rs 60,000.” He has been doing business in Hyderabad since 12 years and this year too he says the business is good.

It is not just people from Hyderabad who buy camels. People from nearby Maharashtra districts and even from Pune buy camels from the city during Ramzan. This shows the total neglect of laws by the police.

Camels are transported in cramped trucks. They are brought into the state mostly by middlemen who buy them from Rajasthan.

On July 3 after a camel was slaughtered in blatant violation of FSSAI and animal welfare laws at Kamela the People for Animals wrote a letter to the police commissioner. However, no action has been taken yet.