Disruption of peace and tranquility over cattle transportation issue has become quite common in Dakshina Kannada these days. It is also tragic that cattle transportation is even paving way for communal unrest in the region and the issue is also getting complex with the passing of each day as if no solution is in the offing. In reality it need not be an issue that disturbs the tranquility of the society. What is needed is a far sighted give and take policy on behalf of different organizations and leaders of different communities.
As most of the disputes are pertaining to cattle smuggling and the inhuman manner in which the cattle are handled during transportation, why not the social organizations arrive at some conclusion in this regard ? In most cases, uproar is created whenever cattle in poor and dying conditions are secretly transported and the same is detected by cops or organizations opposing cattle smuggling.
There is a rule to prevent cruelty on animals. There is a scope to use this law and book those who transport cattle by inhumanly cramming them in vehicles. International organizations like PETA too have launched nation-wide campaign against such practices. As at the outset the only solution to the present problem seems to be to exert pressure on those involved in cattle smuggling in an inhuman fashion, by organizations of their community itself.
There is also the paradox of men belonging to the community to which people who oppose cattle smuggling belong to, themselves selling cattle to the butchers. At least the farmers who sell cattle at times of difficulty should try to know as to whom they are handing over the dumb animals which they have nurtured with care. The people who oppose cow slaughter should first have the moral responsibility of taking care of old and barren cattle. It is nothing but hypocrisy to publicly oppose cow slaughter and then sell the cattle to butchers in private.
There have even been reports of cattle left for grazing transported to slaughter houses. This too is a matter of concern. It is also common as of now to transport cattle in Qualis and Sumo cars while earlier they used to be transported in lorries and tempos.
The recent incident wherein the body of two cattle smugglers were found in the Netravathi river near Uppinangady, gave a sensitive turn to the issue of cattle smuggling and transportation. As a continued part of it, even the thrashing of a cattle trader in public by the Konaje cops, is much in debate. Every community has its only religious symbols. For Hindus a cow is a sacred animal. While cattle slaughter is banned in some states, there has been such a proposal even in our state. If the government enforces such an act, then cattle transportation as well as functioning of slaughter houses itself would be illegal. When the government permits functioning of slaughter houses, why is it that no scope is given for the normal functioning of these slaughter houses ? The government itself must end this dilemma.
The recent instances wherein animal carcass were found near places of worship in several places in the district, is directly related to cattle smuggling. There should be an end to such incidents as peace in the society is above all.
What is more important is for members of both the majority and minority community to live in peace and harmony. Any price which has to be paid to achieve this end cannot be considered high.
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