U'khand bans transportation of animals to Nepal for sacrifice

EOI & PTI, Dehradun, 12 November 2014: The Uttarakhand government on Wednesday put a ban on illegal transportation of animals from Uttarakhand's border districts to Nepal's Gadhimai Festival for sacrifice, in compliance with an interim order of the Supreme Court.

A government order to this effect was issued on Wednesday with instructions to the superintendents of police (SPs) and district magistrates (DMs) of Champavat, Pithoragarh, Nainital and Udhamsingh Nagar, bordering Nepal, to implement the ban strictly, Principal Secretary (Home) M H Khan and Principal Secretary Ranveer Singh told reporters.

The government order putting a ban on illegal movement of animals, especially cows and buffalos, is in compliance with an apex court order last month directing the Union of India to prevent illegal movement of animals across the border from India to Nepal to be sacrificed at the Gadhimai Festival to be held from November 24 to 29, the officials said.

The court's order was passed in response to a petition by animal rights activist Gauri Maulekhi, who had sought a ban on the practice.

Chief Secretary N Ravishankar also held a meeting with Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) which guards the Indo-Nepal borders earlier in the day asking it to ensure total implementation of the ban.

Approximately 70 per cent of the animals to be sacrificed at

the festival come from Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand which share borders with Nepal.

The Supreme Court had also directed the Solicitor General to prepare a road map for stopping the movement of animals from India to Nepal in consultation with these states.