Shocking Animal Sacrifice Incident in Telangana Temple Festival
A deeply disturbing episode of animal sacrifice has emerged from Jagtial district in Telangana, where approximately 50 goats were killed in an exceptionally inhumane manner. The incident occurred during the Bheemanna Jatara, a three-day festival held at the Bheemeswara Temple in Raikal, with the sacrifices taking place on the final day, Tuesday.
Gruesome Ritual Method Revealed
Videos recorded by animal rights activists reveal a particularly brutal method of sacrifice known as 'gavu pattadam'. In this ritual, men were seen killing goats by biting them directly on the throat to make them bleed as part of the sacrificial ceremony. Activists describe this as one of the cruelest methods of killing animals, as the animals are bitten while still alive and left to die slowly.
Adulapuram Goutham, an activist and complainant in the case, emphasized the severity of this practice, stating that despite animal and bird sacrifices being illegal in Telangana, such rituals continue to occur at many temples across the state.
Legal Action and Police Investigation
Based on a formal complaint, Raikal police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the organizers under multiple legal provisions:
- Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) pertaining to mischief by killing or maiming animals
- Section 6 of the Telangana Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act, 1950 which prescribes penalties for violating the ban on animal sacrifices
- Section 11(1)(a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 relating to the killing or poisoning of animals by multiple persons
Chitneni Sudheer Rao, sub inspector at Raikal police station, confirmed that "We registered a case and started investigation" into the matter.
Conflicting Accounts and Traditional Justifications
While activists allege that between 50 and 70 goats were sacrificed during the ritual, and that local police personnel present at the venue did not intervene to stop the sacrifices, Raikal police have offered a different perspective. They stated that they were present at the venue only for bandobast (security arrangements) and did not witness any sacrifices taking place.
Organizers and local participants defended the practice as a long-standing tradition. Devuni Lingaiah, the temple pujari and one of the organizers, explained that "Locals believe their wishes will be fulfilled if goats are sacrificed like this." He and others insisted this was a tradition going back many generations.
Rajesh, a local resident, added that "We don't consider these sacrifices inhumane. This is part of our tradition," noting that this particular jatara is held during the January-February period in accordance with customs of various castes and communities.
Wider Pattern of Animal Sacrifices in Telangana
This incident is not isolated. Activists allege that despite existing laws against animal sacrifices, at least seven similar cases have been reported across Telangana in the last six months from districts including Rajanna Sircilla, Karimnagar, Siddipet, Nizamabad, and Adilabad.
According to activists, close to 100 animals have been allegedly sacrificed in such rituals during this period. The scale of these events is significant, with about 10,000 people from various parts of Telangana and outside the state attending the Jagtial festivities that began on February 1.
Cultural Context and Legal Challenges
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between traditional religious practices and modern animal welfare laws in India. While organizers describe animal sacrifices at local village jataras as "commonplace" and deeply embedded in cultural traditions, animal rights activists continue to challenge these practices as illegal and inhumane.
The case raises important questions about enforcement of existing laws, cultural preservation versus animal welfare, and the role of authorities in regulating traditional practices that conflict with contemporary legal standards.
