Balangir, Jan. 7: A curfew did not stop thousands from sacrificing animals in Khairguda, on the occasion of the Sulia festival today. Most of the sacrifices were carried out at Bad Khala, about 25km from here.

This is the second time on a trot in seven years when the tribal people have ventured into the prohibited place to carry out the traditional ritual.

They had been performing the sacrifices at a new site after 2007 when they were not permitted to do so at Bad Khala, the main seat of Sulia deity, and also at San Khala.

The administration today claimed it had done everything to prevent the practice, but failed.

Somanath Pradhan of Tarabha, who had gone to see the Sulia festival, said that animal sacrifices took place in the presence of the police and other officials.

“I am surprised at how the police allowed the sacrifices to take place even though section 144 was in force at Bad Khala. The police remained mute spectators while the devotees stayed the animals. The administration did nothing to stop them. It is not enough to just impose a curfew. They should implement it too,” he said.

Sulia Sanskar Manch, an outfit fighting against the animal sacrifices, is equally unhappy with the role the administration.

“Every year, the administration imposes the curfew. Earlier, at least the sacrifices were completely stopped at Bad Khala, the main seat of the deity. There were no sacrifices allowed there for seven years. Since last year, the tribal devotees have been going there and carrying out the sacrifices yet again. This is sheer failure of the administration,” said a member of the manch.

“This year, the police deployment was very less and no awareness drive was carried out against animal sacrifice,” he said.

According to a conservative estimate, at least a thousand fowls, 400 goats, sheep and about 50 buffaloes were slaughtered at the festival.

Balangir sub-divisional police officer Narayan Naik said the administration had done everything it could do.

“Adequate police had been deployed to maintain law and order during the festival. Some sacrifices have been performed, but we are discouraging it so that it doesn’t happen on a massive scale. All the three sites where the sacrifices take place have been cordoned off by the police and we are restraining people from coming to the spot with animals,” Naik said.