VIJAYAWADA: Five days ahead of Bakrid, illegal smuggling of camels has been reported under the Rayachoti police station limits in Kadapa district.
Last month Rayachoti police received a complaint from a private NGO Earth Quotient, stating that camels are being smuggled into the region from Rajasthan ahead of Bakrid. Following this complaint, police seized 19 camels based on the video evidence given by the NGO and produced the accused before the local court on June 26.
However, Earth Quotient said on July 4, that they had once again written to the DGP, DSP and SP’s office stating that 11 more camels, from the same group, are yet to be rescued.
“Despite repeated requests from Earth Quotient both by Whatsapp and email to the police officials and the collector of Kadapa district, no efforts have been made to nab the culprits and rescue the remaining 11 camels from this group,” their letter reads. The letter also says that the seized camels were left on a private land belonging to Parvat Reddy.
But Rayachoti inspector G Raju said, “We quickly managed to rescue the 19 camels found at the place of offence. They are now under the care of concerned officials.”
The animals are also allegedly not fenced off, leaving them at risk of falling into the hands of smugglers. ‘Camel slaughter for the purpose of meat is an illegal act under the provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 (herein referred as PCA,1960). Back in 2007, the state government was directed by the Andhra Pradesh High Court to take measures to stop the illegal transportation and slaughter of camels.
In this regard, the animal husbandry department had issued a GO constituting a core committee consisting of senior IAS officials within the department to implement the rules. However, during the last 20 years, Rayachoti became notorious for its biggest camel market in south India with traders coming from all four southern states to purchase them. The desert animal is in high demand especially during Bakrid.
