A very cruel case of animal cruelty has come to light during Jatra in Jagtial district of Telangana, which has shaken the people. Around 50 goats have been sacrificed during Bhimanna Jatara (Jatra) at Bhimeshwar Temple in Raikal area. This ritual is a local tradition known as ‘Gaavu Pattadam’, in which the throats of live animals are bitten with teeth and then they are left to die in agony and bleeding.
goats captured alive and bitten
The video of this sacrifice went viral on social media, in which people are holding the goats and biting their necks. The animals are seen screaming and writhing in pain, while the crowd is watching it. This is a cruel method, because the animal is not killed immediately but dies slowly due to bleeding. The incident took place inside the temple premises, where policemen were present to maintain law and order.
Animal sacrifice banned at religious places
Animal lover and complainant Adulapuram Gautam has strongly condemned this. He said that this is the most cruel treatment to animals, as they are slaughtered alive and left to die. They allege that no officer present at the venue tried to stop it, while such illegal practices continue in many parts of Telangana. Sacrifice of animals in temples or public religious places is prohibited under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and Telangana rules.
Police denied the incident of sacrifice
Raikal police say that they did not see any sacrifice during the incident, but after the video went viral, a case has been registered against the organizers and the people involved under various sections of the Indian Justice Code. Police said that a complete investigation is going on and strict action will be taken against the culprits.
This issue has come up many times before in Telangana, where practices like ‘Gaavu Pattadam’ continue in festivals like Bonalu or local jatras. Animal rights organizations like PETA India and Stray Animal Foundation of India (SAFI) are continuously demanding action on such incidents. They say that animal cruelty in the name of religion is unacceptable and should be stopped immediately.
