Jagtial jatra: Devotees sacrifice 50 goats by biting them on throat

Hyderabad: A disturbing episode of animal sacrifice has surfaced from Jagtial district where around 50 goats have been killed in an inhumane manner. Videos recorded by animal rights activists show men killing the goats by biting them on the throat to make them bleed as part of the sacrifice.The sacrifices took place on Tuesday, the final day of the three-day Bheemanna Jatara held at the Bheemeswara Temple in Raikal.
Based on a complaint, Raikal police registered an FIR against the organisers under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to mischief by killing or maiming animals, Section 6 of the Telangana Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act, 1950, prescribing penalties for violating the ban on animal sacrifices, and Section 11(1)(a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, relating to the killing or poisoning of animals by multiple persons."We registered a case and started investigation," confirmed Chitneni Sudheer Rao, sub inspector, Raikal police station.Locals claimed that between 50 and 70 goats were sacrificed as part of the ritual known as ‘gavu pattadam', in which animals are killed by biting. Videos of the ritual accessed by TOI, show men carrying out the ritual within the temple premises, even as some local policemen are seen in the crowd, trying to ensure things don't go out of hand."Gavu pattadam is among the cruellest methods of killing animals, as they are bitten while alive and left to die," said activist and complainant, Adulapuram Goutham claiming how despite animal and bird sacrifices being illegal in Telangana, they continue at many temples. "Nobody, including police personnel, present at the Bheemanna jatara venue tried to stop the sacrifices," he alleged.Raikal police, however, said that they were present at the venue only for bandobast and did not witness any sacrifices.Organisers, however, admitted to animal sacrifices at local village jataras being commonplace. They also insisted this was a tradition going back many generations. "Locals believe their wishes will be fulfilled if goats are sacrificed like this," said Devuni Lingaiah, the temple pujari and one of the organisers.Another devout shared how some jataras witness lakhs of animals being sacrificed during the event."We don't consider these sacrifices inhumane. This is part of our tradition," said Rajesh, a local, adding how this jatara in particular is held during the Jan-Feb period in accordance with the customs of people from various castes and communities.Incidentally, despite a law against sacrifices, at least seven such cases have been reported across Telangana in the last six months or so from Rajanna Sircilla, Karimnagar, Siddipet, Nizamabad and Adilabad, alleged activists. Close to 100 animals were allegedly sacrificed in such rituals, they alleged.About 10,000 people from various parts of Telangana and outside the state attended the Jagtial festivities that started on Feb 1.