Illegal slaughter: 400 kg donkey meat seized in Bapatla

Bapatla: Following a complaint from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, the Bapatla police, in a joint operation with PETA and local activists from Andhra Pradesh, conducted four raids across Bapatla district, seized over 400 kg of donkey meat.

Gopal Surabathula of Animal Rescue Organisation, Tejovanth Anupoju of Help for Animals Society, and Vijay Kishore Palika of East Godavari SPCA were part of the raids.

Two locations in Uzilipet, one in Vetapalem, and one in the jurisdiction of Two Town police station were raided, and donkey meat and discarded body parts, including heads, legs, and flesh attached to tails, were seized by the police.

FIRs have been registered by One Town, Two Town, and Vetapalem police stations under various provisions of the IPC, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act 1960, and the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. All persons involved in the illegal trade and slaughter have also been arrested.

"Donkeys are sensitive animals who form deep bonds with their families and friends and communicate with each other through a variety of sounds. Yet in Andhra Pradesh, these animals are being hacked up for meat," said PETA India manager of Cruelty Response Projects Meet Ashar. "PETA India is calling on everyone to report illegal donkey slaughter to authorities and to extend compassion to all animals by eating vegan."

In India, killing donkeys and eating donkey meat violates a number of laws. Donkey slaughter violates section 429 of the IPC and is punishable with a jail term of up to five years, a fine, or both. Killing donkeys is also an offence under section 11(1)(a) and (l) of the PCA Act 1960. Consumption of donkey meat is illegal under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, and slaughtering animals in public places is banned under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules 2001. In a seven-year period, India's donkey population has declined by 61%.