Cuttack, Oct. 17: Maneka Gandhi’s animal rights group has asked the Puri district administration to stop the traditional practice of animal sacrifice at the Kali Temple at Biragovindapur. The group, People for Animals (PFA), raised concerns over the ongoing practice of “merciless killing of animals” at the Dakhinakali Temple in Puri district and filed a writ petition seeking judicial intervention against it.

“Responding to it, the high court has directed the state government to take steps to stop the practise at the temple,” PFA (Orissa unit) secretary Jiban Das told The Telegraph.

Official sources said Puri collector B.J. Sharma had issued a prohibition order on animal sacrifice at the Kali Temple in Biragovindapur.

In 2007, more than 1,200 goats were offered as sacrifice in the presence of the local MLA and MPs. Campaigns by animal rights groups failed to stop the gruesome slaughter of 500-odd goats even in 2008. “Strict enforcement of law is the only option for stopping animal sacrifice,” Das said.

Animal rights activists, with the help of the district administration, had stopped sacrifices at the Bhatarika Temple near Badamba in 2005. Following PFA campaigns, animal sacrifice was stopped at the Niali Kali Temple at Podapada and Charchika Temple at Banki in Cuttack district in 2006 and 2007, respectively.