East Champaran sets up 9 more check-posts to prevent smuggling of birds, animals for sacrifice

MOTIHARI: Complying with the orders of Supreme Court of India, East Champaran district administration has set up nine more check-posts on Indo-Nepal border in addition to the existing customs check-posts to prevent animals and birds from being smuggled across the border from India to Nepal for being sacrificed at Gadhimai fair at Bariarpur in Bara district of Nepal, scheduled to be held on November 28 and 29.
East Champaran DM Jitendra Srivastav said magistrates and police force have been deployed at these check-posts round-the-clock to check illegal export of animal and birds to Nepal.
In the last five days, 622 buffaloes, goats and other animals in nine trucks were seized and 37 smugglers were arrested ahead of Gadhimai fair. SP Sunil Kumar said two Sis of Chakiya police station had been placed under suspension for dereliction of duty. All police stations have been directed to seize trucks loaded with animals illegally. A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice J S Kehar on November 17 passed an order on a PIL alleging that a large numbers of cattle are exported illegally to Nepal for sacrificing at Gadhimai temple.
The court observed that sacrifice of animals and birds at Gadhimai was demeaning and cruel and such brutal treatment must not be meted out to them.
The court has also asked the animal protection groups to devise an action plan to ensure the order is implemented. In response to court order, a team of 25 members of different animal protection groups including forest and environment department, Blue Cross of India, Jiv-Jantu Kalyan Board, India, etc are camping at check-posts in East Champaran border. Gauri Maheshwari, a member of forest and environment department, Delhi, said a case was lodged by her with the Raxaul PS against six Nepali citizens, who were found impressing upon the local people to sacrifice their animals at Gadhimai.
Gadhimai festival is held once every five years at Gadhimai temple at village Bariarpur in Nepal adjacent to Ghorasahan in East Champaran, Bihar.
The event involves huge sacrifice of animals (around two lakh) to please Gadhimai, the goddess of power. Ram Chandra Sah, president of Gadhimai fair, told TOI that around five million pilgrims of Nepal and India participate in this fair. Majority of pilgrims come from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Madhy Pradesh in India.
The head priest of Gadhimai temple Prem Chandra said the first sacrifice is called ‘saptbali’ which includes rat, goat, pigeon, roost, duck, swine and buffalo .