Stating that some individuals on social media platforms claimed that the letter was fake, Abdulla demanded that concerned authorities should clarify if it really was a fake letter. The Manipur government should clarify the matter and should not remain silent by simply terming it as fake, he asserted.
TFM Report
An alleged letter by the superintendent of police of CID (CB), directing SPs all the districts of Manipur to check on illegal killing or sacrifices of cows or calves, camels, and other animals and to take action against the offenders for violation of Transport of Animal Rules on the occasion of ensuing Idul-Zuha or Bakrid might kick off a storm in the state.
Manipur Muslim Welfare Organisation (MMWO) on Wednesday demanded that the directive be withdrawn and warned of agitations if anyone interferes with the religious conduct of the community. The Manipur government should be held responsible if any untoward incidents occur, it added.
Speaking to media persons at its office at Hatta, Imphal East, MMWO president Abdulla Phundreimayum termed the directive as a “direct assault on the Muslims” and lamented that it has made the Meetei-Pangal community of the state uncertain.
Stating that such interference has been never heard of in the state, he said that the Meetei-Pangal community has always enjoyed the freedom to practice its religion and others also enjoyed the same when it comes to food habits.
Contending that the directive was aimed at interfering with the Idul-Zuha celebration, to be held this month, Abdulla demanded that the directive should be withdrawn and asserted that it was unfortunate that the Home Department remained a silent spectator when an SP acted in such a way.
Stating that some individuals on social media platforms claimed that the letter was fake, Abdulla demanded that concerned authorities should clarify if it really was a fake letter. And the culprits involved in circulating it should also be nabbed. The Manipur government should clarify the matter and should not remain silent by simply terming it as fake, he asserted.
He further recalled a Supreme Court’s order in 2015, exempting the killing of animals for religious purposes. Meetei-Pangal community is against the illegal killing of animals, but no one should interfere with its religious conduct, he asserted and pointed out that no one interferes during Christmas or Bali when animals are killed.
He informed that Idul-Zuha is one of the most popular festivals celebrated by Muslims in India and across the world. This holy festival commemorates the sacrifices of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who was even ready to sacrifice his firstborn on God’s command and later sacrificed a sheep as per God’s instructions. Muslims across the world sacrifice animals and share the meat with others, he added.
The controversial letter came a day after the new Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tabled a new bill to protect cattle in the Assam Legislative Assembly,
The directive was issued on Tuesday in view of the upcoming Bakrid festival which will be celebrated between July 19 and 21, 2021 all over the country. The letter addressed to SPs of all the districts of Manipur said it is requested to kindly take precautionary measures to strictly implement the Animal Welfare Laws to stop the illegal slaughter of animals and to take stringent action against the offenders violating the animal laws viz. PCA Act, 1960, Transport of Animals Rules, 1978, Transport of Animals (Amendment) Rules, 2001, Slaughter House Rules, 2001, Municipal Laws and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India directions for slaughtering of animals during Bakrid festival.
The directive is expected to have an effect on this year’s Bakrid celebrations as beef is a major delicacy for many Muslim families in the state. If the authority enforces the directive strictly, beef delicacies are likely to vanish from Bakrid’s platter in Manipur this year.
The directive came close on the heels of Assam Legislative Assembly tabling the new bill that bars sale and purchase of beef or beef products in areas “predominantly inhabited by Hindu, Jain, Sikh and other non-beef-eating communities”, or “within a radius of 5 km” of any temple or sattra (Vaishnavite monasteries).
This is a unique aspect of The Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021, which aims to regulate the “slaughter, consumption, illegal transportation” of cattle. If passed, the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950, which Sarma had earlier said lacked sufficient legal provisions to “regulate slaughter, consumption and transportation of cattle”, will be repealed, according to The Indian Express.
Many states which have their own anti-slaughter laws, do not exclude specific areas — like what Assam proposes — to sell or buy beef and beef products.
Reacting to the Bill, the leader of the opposition of Assam, Debabrata Saikia of Congress said there are a lot of problematic areas in the Bill and they are getting it examined by legal experts. “For example, the 5 km rule about beef. A stone can be laid and a ‘temple’ can be ‘built’ anywhere by anyone — so it becomes very ambiguous. This may lead to a lot of communal tension,” he said.
The Opposition has said it will push for amendments. “This is not a Bill to protect cows or even respect cows. This has been brought to hurt the sentiments of the Muslims and polarise communities further. We oppose it and will try and bring in amendment resolutions,” said Aminul Islam, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) legislator.
Assam’s proposed law also does not distinguish between different cattle types — it will apply to all cattle that includes “bulls, bullocks, cows, heifer, calves, male and female buffaloes and buffalo calves.” For purposes of the anti-slaughter Act, both Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh include only cow progeny, but not buffaloes, the Indian Express reported.
The Assam Bill prohibits interstate transport of cattle to and from, as well as through Assam without valid documents. Sarma had earlier said that the proposed legislation was to ban the movement of cattle to check cattle smuggling to Bangladesh, which shares a 263-kilometer-long border with Assam. He said the 1950 Act lacked sufficient legal provisions to “regulate slaughter, consumption, and transportation of cattle” and thus it was imperative to enact new legislation.
As per the 1950 Act, cattle slaughter is allowed only for cattle “over 14 years of age” or those “unfit for work” in Assam subject to a “fit-for-slaughter certificate” issued by a local veterinary officer after an examination. Under the new law, the same approval certificate for all cattle is required — however, it adds that a cow cannot be slaughtered regardless of age.
“No certificate shall be issued unless the Veterinary Officer is of the opinion that the cattle, not being a cow, is over fourteen years of age; or the cattle, not being a cow, heifer or calf, has become permanently incapacitated from work or breeding due to accidental injury or deformity,” it says.
Section 7 of the Bill, ‘Prohibition on the transport of cattle’, states that without a valid permit, transport of cattle is banned from Assam to states where the slaughter of cattle is not regulated by law, and from one state to another “through” Assam. It also adds that cattle cannot be transported within the state (inter-district), without documents.
However, no permission is required to transport cattle for grazing or other agricultural or animal husbandry purposes, as well as to and from registered animal markets, within a district.
The proposed law also gives police officers (not below the rank of sub-inspector), or any other person authorised by the government, the power to “enter and inspect any premises” within their jurisdiction where he has “reason to believe that an offence under the Act has been or is likely to be committed.” In the 1950 Act, this power was given only to the veterinary officer and certifying officer, appointed by the government.
Anybody found guilty can be jailed for a term of a minimum three years (extendable up to eight years) and fined Rs 3 lakh (with the upper limit Rs 5 lakh), or both. For repeat offenders, the punishment will be doubled.
The proposed legislation, however, allows for certain exemptions — it won’t apply to “religious occasions” when “slaughter of cattle, not being a cow or heifer or calf” is allowed.