Jagtial: Devotees sacrificed around 50 goats at a temple in an inhuman manner in Jagtial district of Telangana, Tv9 Telugu reported. Videos recorded by animal welfare activists showed men biting the goats on the throat and leaving them to bleed out as a part of the sacrifice.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, January 3, on the last day of three-day Bhemanna Jatara, which was held at Bheemanna temple in Raikal town.
Raikal Police register FIR:
Raikal Police registered an FIR under Section 325 of BNS, Section 6 of Telangana Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act, 1950 and Section 11 (1) (a) of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
An investigation is underway, sub-inspector Sudheer Rao, Raikal Police Station said.
Ritual carried out at temple:
The sacrifice of 50 to 70 goats, also known as ‘Gavu Pattadam’, where animals are killed by biting, was carried out at the Bhemanna temple premises, locals said. The ritual went on as policemen are seen in the crowd, trying to make sure things don’t run out of hand.
Policemen present at the venue: Complainant
Animal rights activist and complainant Adulapuram Gowtham said that the ritual is the cruelest method of killing animals, as they are bitten while they are alive and then left to die.
He alleged that policemen present at the jatara venue did not try to stop the animal sacrifice.Raikal police stated that they were present at the venue for arrangements and did not see any animal sacrifice.
Organisers said that animal sacrifices in village jataras are common and insisted that it is a ritual that goes back many generations. “People here believe that their wishes will be fulfilled if animals are sacrificed like this,” Devuni Lingaiah, one of the organisers and temple priest said.
Activists say that at least seven such cases have been reported across Telangana over the last six months, despite strict laws against animal sacrifices.