Vijayawada, October 12, 2022: In perhaps the largest seizure of its kind in India in recent years, the Andhra Pradesh police late on Sunday seized 400 kg of donkey meat from four different places in Bapatla town. Seven people have been arrested in the case so far.
Wildlife activists, who helped the police in the raids, said that the practice of slaughtering donkeys goes back many years in Andhra Pradesh, but this was the first time that the slaughterhouses were raided.
The officials recovered meat, discarded body parts, including heads, legs, and flesh attached to tails during the raids. The accused were selling the meat for Rs 600 a kg.
Senior police officials told TOI that although there is no scientific evidence, there is a widespread belief in certain parts of Andhra Pradesh that donkey meat can heal back pain and asthma and is used as an aphrodisiac as well. There is also a belief that drinking donkey blood and running for a while makes the human body more pain-resistant and can suffer any torture.
Drop in India’s donkey population
The meat is widely sold and consumed in Prakasam, Krishna, West Godavari and Guntur districts. India has banned slaughtering donkeys under Section 429 of the IPC which prescribes a jail term of up to five years, a fine, or both. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act is also invoked in such cases. Besides, consumption of donkey meat is illegal under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The latest seizure has come at a time when where has been a sharp drop in donkey population in the country. The 2019 Livestock Census said the animal’s population shrunk to 012 million in 2019 from 0.32 million in 2012. The surge in demand for donkey hide in China is believed to be one of the reasons for the decline. “Donkeys are sensitive animals who form deep bonds with their families and friends and communicate with each other through a variety of sounds. Yet in AP, these animals are being hacked for meat,” says Meet Ashar, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India manager of cruelty response projects according to the reports published in timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
PETA helped the police in the raids along with Gopal Surabathula of Animal Rescue Organisation, T Anupoju of Help for Animals Society and Vijay Kishore Palika of East Godavari SPCA. Ahmed Jani, SI of Chirala One Town, said raids were conducted on a complaint by the local food safety officer.
