Balurghat, Nov. 24: The state government has imposed a ban on animal shows in circuses. Slaughter houses have been shifted outside city limits. But not a finger is raised against the slaughter of countless animals in the name of religion.

More than 3,000 goats and a buffalo had been sacrificed. 3,000 pairs of pigeons were waiting their turn to appease the idol at the 150-year-old Bolla Kali Mandir.

Like each year, the slaughter began on the first Friday after raash purnima. The nightlong killings will come to an end tonight. People in their thousands, flock to the temple, located 22 km from Balurghat to witness the mindless carnage. The devotees smear themselves with blood that flows from the altar seeking the deity’s blessings.

A powerful puja committee, formed 50 years ago to “organise the puja in a systematic manner”, has silenced all critics and animal rights activists who had a few years ago raised their voice to protest against the annual ritual. Even the law enforcers keep their distance to keep them in good humour.

“How can we put up with such barbaric acts in this day and age? The committee earns a fast buck by playing on the gullible public’s sentiments,” poet Dipankar Bandopadhyay said.

This year, more than 30 bhari of gold and 60 bhari of silver have been deposited at the temple as offerings. “Several lakh in cash is also offered as pronami by the devotee,” said a resident on condition of anonymity.

“We use it to decorate the temple and tap the same resources whenever we repair parts of it or plan an expansion,” said Nripendra Nath Karmakar., secretary of the committee. “Though a few people had requested us to utilise some part of it for social work, we have no intention of doing anything like that in the near future.”

he added.