-SATISH HANDA

According to Indian Animal Welfare Board survey report nearly 8000 animals including cows, buffaloes, calves, goats and sheep are being smuggles to U.P and Delhi from or via Haryana every day for slaughtering. Information reveals that there are several smugglers active at Bawel and Kasaula in Hisar district, Sunoli area in Panipat district, Rai and Kundli in Sonepat district, Dabwali in Sirsa district, Nangal and Ratia in Fatehabsd district, Rewari, Nuh, Ambala and Yamunanagar districts in the state to arrange despatch of 40 to 50 vehicles carrying animals for smuggling to other states daily. Sources further reveal that in most of the cases animals brought from Punjab and Rajasthan are sent to U.P and Delhi via Haryana state. Information also reveals, Nohar gang functioning at Hanumangrah in Rajasthan is very active to smuggle animals through their agents in Haryana state.

According to Himanshu Chandana Animal Welfare officer, Indian Animal Welfare Board large numbers of stray animals collected from the roads in Haryana towns as well as in NCR area are dumped in the trucks by the local agents in the state for onward shipment to different rackets at Meerut, Saharanpur, Bagpat, Muzaffarnagar, Bullandshahar districts in UP and Gazipur Mandi Delhi involved in slaughtering such stray animals. He said, detailed survey report has already been submitted to their Head office at Ballabhgarh in Haryana state. He told media persons that there are several rules prescribed by the government for transportation of milk producing animals. He said, only animals producing milk can be lifted in vehicles after complete verification by the Sarpanch of village in case purchased in a rural area or a municipal councillor in case milk producing animal purchased in an urban area with complete details. There is also requirement of a certificate issued by a veterinary doctor while shifting the animals not more than six in a truck. However, shifting of stray animals is strictly banned by the government.

According to Haryana state police department information, large number of vehicles smuggling cows and other animals for slaughtering mostly on way to U.P and other states have been caught and impounded by the police in the state and cases registered by Haryana police against the smugglers, which include 147 cases registered in the year 2017 (33 cases at Hisar, 24 cases at Rohtak, 19 cases at Rewari, 15 cases at Jhajjar and 12 cases at Jind), Similarly, in the year 2018 Haryana police registered 167 cases against animal smugglers (including 45 cases at Hisar, 29 cases at Sirsa, 20 cases at Jind, and 15 cases at Jhajjar), According to data provided by the state police department 171 cases of animal smuggling were registered in Haryana in the year 2019 (including 89 cases at Hisar, 23 cases at Rohtak, 15 cases at Jhajjar and 14 cases at Bhiwani. During this year Haryana police has registered 47 cases of animal smuggling till August 2020, which include 20 cases registered by the police at Hisar and 8 cases registered at Sirsa.