Culling operations on the second day here were stalled for about five hours, following an agitation by state coordination committee (affiliated to CPM) members. They gheraoed the Margram police station on Thursday morning, protesting against police harassment of one of their leaders and lack of amenities to carry out protective measures.

They were mostly employees of the Animal Resources Development (ARD) department and were brought in from different districts.

The villagers on their part took out protest rallies, complaining about inadequate compensation.

Reports of agitation and resentment poured in from different affected villages. Villagers refused to hand over their poultry for culling at the compensation rate announced. The villagers also protested digging up pits to bury the chicken.

Later, the operation could be only partially resumed in 127 villages of five affected blocks, including Rampurhat 1 and 2, Nalhati 1 and 2, Mayureshwar 1 and Muraroi 1 and 2. Chicken in two private poultries were also destroyed. Officials said 8,600 chicken and ducks were culled on Wednesday.

“There are some problems, but we have asked district authorities to carry on with awareness campaigns in the villages. It is extremely important that we go on with proper culling operations,” said Dilip Das, Director, ARD department.

Meanwhile, UN experts on Thursday said there were more “serious” risk factors that are associated with the current outbreak than previously encountered bird flu in the country. The reason: “the affected areas are more widespread because of proximity of extended border areas.”

... contd.