Officials take steps to prevent illegal cattle transport

HYDERABAD:  In view of the forthcoming ‘Bakrid’ falling on July 10, city police commissioner C.V. Anand on Saturday held a coordination meeting with the commissioners of Cyberabad and Rachakonda police, senior officials of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), transport and animal husbandry departments to discuss the illegal transportation  of cattle.

The meeting discussed recent confrontations between different groups at several places in the city and bordering districts in connection with a ban on slaughtering in other states. The police officers sensitised other government department officials about the network of cattle suppliers, transporters, receivers and slaughterhouses and educated them about the present situation.

Police chiefs of tri-commissionerates asked the GHMC to set up more animal shelters with adequate feed and water at the facility to quickly accommodate the seized cattle. In response to a query on animal remains during the festival, GHMC officials assured that sanitisation teams would be pressed into service to clear them off the roads, ponds and open drains.

Anand also issued a stern warning against self-styled groups and individuals taking law into their own hands in the name of protecting animals. “If anyone has information about illegal transport of cattle, then it should be brought to the notice of the officials.” he said.

“The police authorities set up check-posts across the city to monitor entry of cattle illegally into the city. The check-posts will be manned round-the-clock by a team comprising of officials of the animal husbandry department, the local police and the GHMC,” he added.