Ranchi: A member of the Central Animal Welfare Board (CAWB) on Friday lodged a formal complaint with the district police chief, accusing a cop and a veterinary officer-cum-magistrate of non-cooperation and callousness during an anti-slaughter crackdown in Doranda.
SSP Anish Gupta has ordered an inquiry.
A team comprising the CAWB honorary officer, members of a voluntary outfit and police from Doranda and Argora thanas raided Kasaitola in Kusai area of Doranda around 4am following a tip-off about cow slaughtering. But, police apparently showed no interest in drawing up a panchnama (a list of evidence).
"There was concrete proof of slaughtering of bovine animals on the premises. There were around 10 rooms, all locked. We peeped in. Some had been cleaned perhaps because the culprits were tipped off about the raid. A few others had skulls, bones and horns. There were more bones in the backyard. In one of the rooms, a calf was found," said honorary officer of CAWB Anjali Anand.
She alleged that Doranda thana OC Abid Khan and government veterinary officer-cum-magistrate Ajay Kumar showed no interest in breaking open the rooms, seizing the animal remains and preparing a panchnama. "We wanted the police force to inspect the rooms and also houses in the locality, but the officers flatly denied."
Anand also claimed that they saw some people fleeing with bovine animals. "The police did not bother to stop them. A person, who called himself the local councillor, threatened us in front of Hatia DSP Vikas Pandey. No one protested," she added.
SSP Gupta said he was getting the allegations probed. "I was told that a search was conducted, but no evidence (of slaughter) was found except for some old and decaying bones. I have sought a report on how the raid was conducted and whether the standard operating procedure was followed," he said.
Normally, an official of the animal husbandry department is appointed as a magistrate during such raids, Gupta said, adding that apart from the Doranda OC, Argora thana OC Ratibhan Singh and Hatia DSP Vikas Pandey were also present.
Veterinary officer Ajay Kumar, who is posted at Argora animal hospital, said he was asked by district animal husbandry officer Dr Dayanand Kumar to accompany the team.
"Yes, I saw animal bones and horns. I did not seize them because I was not vested with magisterial powers. My job was to help police and other officials identify whether the remains belonged to bovine animals or not. What we saw seemed like remains of such animals, but they were not from fresh slaughter," he said.
Dayanand seconded the veterinary officer. "He (Ajay) was sent only to assist police. The deputy commissioner alone can authorise magisterial powers during any such operation," Dayanand said.
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