VHP demands action against MCC commissioner Nazeer, others over Kudroli abattoir

Mangaluru, Oct 27: Accusing Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) Commissioner Mohammed Nazeer and other officials of allowing cow slaughter at an abattoir in Kudroli, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal have demanded immediate action against them.

The demand comes after information made available by MCC Health Officer Kamalamma in response to an RTI query filed by one Prathiba V. Shetty seeking month-wise breakup of animals slaughtered at the abattoir.

The officer classified the animals into dana (cattle), yemme (buffalo), kuri (sheep), and meke (goat). As many as 352 head of cattle were slaughtered in January, followed by 345 in February, 495 in March, 397 in April, 505 in May, 383 in July, 320 in August, and 356 in September. A total of 85,153 animals were slaughtered, of which a majority were sheep and goat.

VHP district secretary Sharan Pumpwell told reporters on Saturday that dana was nothing but cow. “Mr. Nazeer and other MCC officials have admitted to allowing slaughter of cows,” he said, adding that a complaint was filed with the Mangaluru North police on Thursday against Mr. Nazeer, Ms. Kamalamma and other MCC officials for violation of the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act.

Mr. Pumpwell said they would meet Deputy Commissioner S. Sasikanth Senthil and Police Commissioner T.R. Suresh on Monday to reiterate their demand.

Denying the allegation, Mr. Nazeer said that it was not cows but bulls that were among the animals slaughtered at the abattoir. He said there was no question of allowing cow slaughter. He explained that following a complaint from Bajrang Dal activists, MCC personnel had checked the register maintained at the abattoir and found that it was bulls, not cows, that were slaughtered there. He said the health official had gone by the common usage of dana for bulls and failed to realise that the same term was used for cattle in the coastal region.

Mr. Nazeer added that a detailed explanation has been filed with the police.