Agartala, May 27 (IANS) The Tripura government Friday banned slaughtering of animals in open places and temples and threatened tough action against offendors following stringent ciriticism of the practice, officials here said.
"The government has issued a notification banning the slaughtering of animals in open places in Tripura. From now on stern legal action would be taken against violators," Agartala Municipal Council chairperson Prafullajit Sinha told reporters here.
"Animals were slaughtered openly in the markets, roadside stalls, on pavements and at temples throughout the state, which affected children's psychological make-up. These are unhygienic too," Sinha said.
A large number of animals, including buffalos, goats and pigeons are sacrificed in the Tripura temples. The state government has been unable to enforce any law to stop the slaughter in government sponsored temples.
People For Animals (PFA) chairperson Maneka Gandhi, a former union minister, had written letters to the district magistrates in Tripura asking them to stop the "cruel killing of animals in temples".
The erstwhile princely state of Tripura merged with India Oct 15, 1949, through an agreement signed between Kanchan Prabha Devi, then regent maharani, and the governor general.
The agreement made it obligatory for the Tripura government to continue the sponsorship of temples run earlier by Hindu rulers. It continues to this day.
The animal lovers and environmentalists have been condemning the state government for sponsoring animal sacrifice in temples.
