Animal transporters threaten stir

Animal transporters to Deonar slaughterhouse threatened strike on Sunday after police raided two trucks and rescued cattle being allegedly taken for illegal slaughter.

"The transporters are harassed by activists and police who book them under laws that may not even apply and seize animals. This happens especially before Eid. We have a meeting of all parties involved on Sunday and may approach a political leader or a senior police officer for help. We will try to prevent a strike," said Mohammed Ali Qureshi, president, Bombay Suburban Beef Dealers Association.

Thane police and animal activists had intercepted two trucks on Friday and rescued 48 cattle being allegedly taken for illegal slaughter. One truck carrying 30 cattle was stopped in Shahpaur at around 6.45 pm, while another with 18 was raided at Kongaon at around 7.30 pm.

Truck drivers Nizam Aslam Ansari (24) and Irfan Qureshi were arrested. While Ansari and accomplices Abdul Qureshi and Sameer Sheikh were later released on bail, Irfan Qureshi is still in police custody.

"We are looking for the owner of the Shahapur truck and trying to find out where the animals were headed and for what purpose," said senior inspector Santosh Kohli.

"The animals had been stuffed into the vehicles. One bull on the Kongaon truck died," Chetan Sharma, member of People for Animals, said.

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