Animal sacrifice in Mandi dist, case filed

Kullu: The police in Mandi district have registered a case after animal sacrifice was reportedly performed in front of a large number of people, including schoolchildren, during a religious function at Chail Chowk. The animals were sacrificed during devsthapna – the ritualistic installation of a deity, in violation of the Himachal Pradesh high court order, on Thursday.The case was registered at Gohar police station against unknown persons under Section 11 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, following a complaint by Suresh Kumar, a local resident and a social activist.According to Kumar, two goats were sacrificed in full public view and in front of the entire administration and local BJP MLA Vinod Kumar. Hundreds of schoolchildren along with their teachers from the nearby Chail Chowk Govt School were also directed to be at the function and witnessed the beheading of the animals, he said.“My daughter was among the hundreds of schoolchildren who saw the cruelty meted out to innocent animals, and all this happened in the presence of local police and officials of the administration despite the high court ban on animal sacrifice. Even the local MLA was also present,” said Kumar, adding that the police have registered a “weak FIR”.“The police should have added a number of charges, including one for encroachment as devsthapna took place on the govt land belonging to the Himachal Pradesh public works department and for forcing teachers and students to be part of such a function,” said Kumar.The devsthapna function started in the morning after the local deity along with hundreds of followers reached Chail Chowk. The deity was welcomed by members of the local Vyapar Mandal and as the crowds surged, the animal sacrifice was performed.

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