Balangir, Dec. 27: At least 1,000 animals and birds were sacrificed during the Sulia festival at Kumuria, about 25km from here, today.

Flouting prohibitory orders and a directive from Orissa High Court and in the presence of police and a magistrate, tribal people killed animals and birds at San Khala and the newly-created Nua Khala in Kumuria. The administration had banned the entry of many priests who participate in the rituals, but this did not stop the tribal people from following the gory rituals.

At Khairguda, the main seat of the deity Sulia, no animals were sacrificed. Instead of animals, people brought coconuts and other fruits for worshipping the deity. But at Kumuria, a kilometre away from neighbouring village Khairguda, tribal people came out in a procession and followed tradition by slaughtering animals and birds.

Tara Sankar Panda of Balangir, who had gone to attend the festival, said animal sacrifice had taken place in the presence of police.

“I am surprised how police allowed the sacrificial rituals to be carried out when Section 144 had been clamped at San Khala and Nua Khala. Police were mute spectators as tribals slaughtered the animals,” he said.

Convener of the Sulia Sanskar Manch Santanu Naik, however, said no animal sacrifice had taken place at the main sites of Khairguda and Kumuria.

“There were animal sacrifices at other places, but the number has come down drastically compared to other years,” he said.

Naik, however, was very critical of the police and district administration, as animal sacrifice was carried out in their presence.

“It is unfortunate that despite prohibitory orders and an order of Orissa High Court, the administration did nothing. We demand the arrest of those who flouted Section 144 and violated the court order. We also demand action against the district officials who were present at the sites where animal sacrifices were carried out. We will file a contempt of court case against the district administration as they failed to stop the animal sacrifices,” Naik said.

Balangir sub-collector Jyoti Ranjan Pradhan said he had no knowledge of violation of Section 144 at the festival site by the tribals.

“Carrying out animal sacrifice at the prohibited places is a violation of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. We will find out if anyone has violated the prohibitory orders and take stringent action against them,” Pradhan said.

For the past month, the district administration had taken up various programmes to create awareness against animal sacrifice. Local panchayat representatives had been sensitised and involved in the drive.