On Maneka's Intervention, Sadar Utsav Organisers Booked for Cruelty to Animals
Hyderabad: The police on Tuesday booked the organisers of the Sadar Utsav — a centuries-old festival of the Yadav community who display their healthiest bulls at a public gathering — under sections of cruelty against animals.
While the complaint, based on TV media coverage and social media posts, against the festival that took place on November 14 was filed 20 days ago, an FIR was only registered by the Narayanaguda police on Tuesday after the intervention of animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi.
The police said that they are inquiring into the incident.
Meanwhile, animal rights activists alleged police laxity.
Adulapuram Goutham, who works as a PCA (prevention of cruelty to animals) officer for the NGO Stray Animal Foundation of India, filed the complaint.
“I received information that a video was uploaded to a YouTube channel regarding a bull being painted and horses made to dance to tunes, being pulled by the nose rings in a cruel manner during the Sadar festival in Narayanaguda. This is against the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.”
He said, “On the day, I received only an acknowledgement copy. After no response from police, I contacted Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi on December 4, following which she spoke to the Narayanaguda police inspector and an FIR was registered.”
Organisers of the festival rapped the complainant for interfering with their traditions and cultures.
Edla Hari Babu Yadav, who is well known for rearing champion bulls that are part of the Sadar Utsav, said, “This is a centuries-old festival. Painting bodies and horns of bulls is a decoration, as we worship those bulls. How come this is wrong? This is our culture. How can they interfere with age-old tradition?”
He also said that animal rights activists were better served in stopping the slaughter of cows and bulls.
The police refuted allegations of laxity.
Narayanaguda police station house office U. Chandra Shekar said: “The delay was because we were conducting an oral inquiry. Based on the investigation, we filed a case against the organiser, as we were not able to spot any individual.”
However, the cop acknowledged that the Sadar Utsav had been taking place in Narayanaguda for many decades.
