100 kg of donkey meat, 16 live donkeys seized from illegal slaughterhouse in Bapatla
Teams found two freshly slaughtered donkeys with their throats slit, bodies cut open, and their heads attached.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 16 Nov 2022 8:28 AM GMT
Bapatla: A month after 400 kg of donkey meat was seized by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, in Bapatla, another case has been reported. Following a complaint from PETA India, the Bapatla police, in a joint operation with PETA India and local groups from Andhra Pradesh, conducted a raid, seizing over 100 kilograms of donkey meat and 16 live donkeys who were slated to be slaughtered.
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. All the people involved in the illegal trade and slaughter have been arrested.
According to the PETA, teams raided an illegal donkey killing establishment at Karlapalem Road, near Hero Honda showroom in Bapatla. Teams found two freshly slaughtered donkeys with their throats slit, bodies cut open, and their heads attached. The carcasses were seized by the police.
An FIR has been registered by Bapatla town police station under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The rescued donkeys were subject to a veterinary examination that revealed that eight of them had deep injuries or multiple abrasion wounds on different parts of their bodies. They have been moved to safety ahead of permanent rehabilitation.
Why is donkey meat sold?
In Andhra Pradesh, butchers sell donkey meat by peddling unscientific myths about its supposed benefits, like eating their flesh or drinking their blood cures disease and increases virility. However, doctors suggest eating plant-based food and not meat for those looking for health benefits.
However, killing donkeys and eating donkey meat violates several laws. Donkey slaughter violates Section 429 of the IPC, 1860, 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%.
