Warning: Read at the risk of turning a vegan

KOCHI: This was one slaughterhouse that had butchered all norms and set new standards in cruelty against animals, that too in full public view, in the city. But following an inspection by the slaughterhouse improvement committee in Kaloor market on Thursday, the Kochi corporation, which had till now turned a blind eye, was finally forced to act.
On Friday, the corporation secretary issued an order asking the health department officials to prevent any illegal slaughtering and also register police complaints.
Admitting to various violations at the slaughterhouse, the order states, "It is noticed that lactating cows, calves, pregnant cows, sick animals, etc are brought and slaughtered in a totally inhuman and illegal way". Further, the officers of corporation's health department, especially veterinary doctors, were asked to enforce the law and keep a strict vigil against any violation.
The committee, set up by the state government to look into the functioning of slaughterhouses in the state, conducted a surprise inspection at the Kaloor slaughter house on Thursday and found that it was violating all norms. When the members visited the slaughterhouse in Kaloor, they found a truck that can carry six cattle carrying an astounding 65 with most of them blinded by tobacco and chilli powder and carrying multiple injuries. "We also found that the calf was being slaughtered along with the mother which is illegal. Also, there is no health record of butchers, who are at the risk of catching TB from cattle," said Gauri Maulekhi, member of the state government's committee and Animal Welfare Board of India.
The situation was no different at the slaughterhouse run by Thrissur corporation, where they conducted inspection on Friday. "The hammer method was being used to kill cattle here. This is in complete violation of the high court order and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The corporation secretary has promised to put a stop to it," added Gauri. Also, the Rs 3-crore fully-mechanized slaughter house set up in 1997 had stopped functioning after two months in Thrissur.
The committee is conducting inspections at various slaughterhouses, legal and illegal, to check slaughtering practices and to ensure that they adhere to slaughter house norms, 2001, as mandated by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The committee is being headed by the animal husbandry principal secretary.