mangalore today

Beef merchants hold protest against cattle attack, check on cattle trucks


Mangalore Today News Network

Kasargod: August 4, 2015:  Beef merchants on Monday revived their protest against checks and attacks on vehicles carrying cattle from other states.


Cattle


In what the traders called the second stage of agitation against continuing attacks — the beef merchant stalled downed shutters across the state on Monday.

Livestock trade between Tamil Nadu and Kerala has been hit since mid-June after the attacks on cattle trucks, allegedly by Sangh-affiliated outfits with a proclaimed stance against cow slaughter.

They have severely affected consumption of beef, a staple in the state’s non-vegetarian menu.

Sources said supply of red meat in Kerala was only about 10 per cent of its potential. Kerala Beef Merchants Association (KBMA) vice-president K M Ummer said transport of cattle from other states, too, has stopped following protests in Tamil Nadu against extensive government checks at the state border and continuing attacks by people claiming to be animal rights activists. “These attacks clearly have nothing to do with animal rights. These are criminal acts by people who are against cow slaughter. We don’t have a choice but to shut business and make ourselves heard,” Ummer told Deccan Herald.

KBMA representatives said the state government was yet to act on the issue, which is snowballing into a livelihood crisis for thousands of workers in the state