Jahangir Sofi
Srinagar, Jul 16: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole Friday said that there is no ban on the sale and slaughter of sacrificial animals in the Valley as it’s a religious obligation done in memory of Prophet Ismail (AS).
He said that killing of bovine animals has been banned in Kashmir since long and it’s not done here. Divisional Commissioner said that the administration is providing full support to facilitate import of sheep, goat and poultry to Kashmir on the eve of Eid-ul-Adha.
“There is no ban on slaughter and sale of sacrificial animals. It’s a religious obligation done in memory of Prophet Ismail (AS) and we need to respect it,” Pole said. He said administration facilitates entry of sacrificial animals at Lower Munda into Kashmir after proper testing etc. “We also test poultry birds for bird flu before allowing them to enter into the Valley,” Pole said.
He said that as far as bovine animals are concerned, there is already a ban on killing such animals. “It is not done in Kashmir and if it is done, action will be taken,” he said.
On the letter issued by the Director Planning Animal and Sheep Husbandry calling for the ‘ban on slaughtering of bovine and sacrificial animals’, the divisional commissioner said that letter is not above the rule position and the act is supreme. “We need to see whether the letter has been issued keeping in view the legal aspect,” he said. Interestingly, the letter had gone viral on social media evoking sharp criticism from the netizens and also from the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), an amalgam of Kashmiri Ulemas. Many netizens had termed it as direct interference into religious affairs.
“Care must be taken before passing any information which involves religious aspects and as every religion should be honoured and respected”, he added.
Director Animal, Sheep Husbandry department Kashmir Purnima Mittal said first of all she didn’t not issue any order and it was just an advisory. “This is an advisory issued in response to the Animal Welfare Board of India. These are just norms for the animals for sacrificial animals,” she said. “This is an advisory issued to prevent cruelty against the animals. This calls for banning the slaughter of animals that are three months old or in case the animal is pregnant.”
She said that there is no ban on sacrificing animals on “Bakra Eid” and the letter issued by the department only focuses on the norms to be followed while transporting animals meant for sacrifices on Eid eve.
