FWD: (IN) Newborn calves skinned alive of leather

[Guest guest]

" Kristie Phelps " <kris... Sat, 3 Sep 2005

11:40:56 -0400

Local: Sat, Sep 3 2005 11:40 pm

 

http://web.mid-day.com/news/city/2005/september/117807.htm

Newborn calves skinned alive of leather

By: Nishant A Bhuse

September 3, 2005

 

Mahim creek has turned into a graveyard for newborn calves. Locals

say an organised syndicate of butchers and leather traders have been

skinning live calves in the area for some time now.

 

Unable to bear the cries of the animals, one local, Aslam Sheikh, a

slum dweller, informed the NGO, In Defense of Animals, (IDA) about

the cruelty.

IDA activists registered a complaint with the Sahu Nagar police

station on Thursday.

 

Heart rending sight

Speaking to Mid Day, Fizzah Shah, president, IDA revealed, " When we

visited the creek, it was heart-rending to see the bodies of the

newborn calves,their legs tied up with strings and wires, stripped of

skin. " The area has witnessed a rise in incidents of diseases like

dengue, malaria, and various respiratory problems.

 

Sold to leather traders

" Cattle owners based in Goregaon, Jogeshwari and Malad sell these

calves to leather traders for Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000. Butchers then

slits the animals' throats and dumps the half-dead calves near the

Mahim creek from the train. "

 

Modus operandi

Residents say that the live calves are stuffed into gunny bags and

thrown out of the trains in the early morning hours.

 

As soon as the train passes, some men from Dharavi area take the

calves into the tall grass and peel their skin, leaving the animals

in pain.

 

" The calves cry out in pain but no one comes to their rescue as these

men are armed and we fear for our lives, " says Aslam. The skin is

peeled off within an hour of the slaughtering, as the animal's blood

has to be warm for the stripping.

 

No arrests

Police sub-inspector S Vichare and his team from Sahu Nagar police

station, along with IDA officers have been waiting for the skin-

strippers but the information of the raid has reportedly leaked out,

and the men have kept away.

 

A BMC official from G North Ward, Dadar stated that, they have not

received any complaints from any individual or NGO in this regard.

Western Railway PRO Shailendra Kumar told Mid Day, " This is shocking!

I am not aware of the transport of cattle on local trains. I have

briefed the RPF to coordinate with the GRP and the city police, to

investigate the matter. "

[Guest guest]

This is one of most cruel acts of abuse I have ever heard. I hope they will

find such evil people and there will not be more torture for the poor, innocent

animals.

 

Patricia