In a shocking finding, cattle and livestock were found to be electrocuted rather than ‘stunned’ before their eventual slaughter at an East Delhi slaughterhouse, according to sources in the Delhi Slaughterhouse Monitoring Committee. ‘Stunning’ is a process of rendering the animals unconscious, which is usually carried out before sheep or buffaloes are killed.
The electrocution is a blatant violation of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughterhouse Rules), 2001. Furthermore, the procedure is against mandatory stunning procedures under the Food Safety and Standards (Licencing and Registration of Food Business), Regulations 2011.
The electrocution process came into light when an inspection was carried out by Satya Sharma, the Mayor of East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) on 10 August 2016.
The Ghazipur slaughterhouse is under EDMC’s supervision and is leased to Frigorifico Allana, a company owned by several political leaders.
Ghazipur slaughterhouse is considered to be one of the biggest and modern slaughterhouses in the country. Though this slaughterhouse is licensed by Food Safety Standards Authority of India, findings of today’s inspection, raise serious worries about the quality of meat being produced and the related public health concerns.Satya Sharma, Mayor, East Delhi Municipal Corporation
The inspection revealed that buffaloes were being electrocuted by placing a live wire on their body, before slitting their throat and hoisting them upside down on hooks even while they were fully conscious. The animals were filmed kicking and struggling, even as they were being deskinned.
The inspectors also found that electric shock was being used to force the animals to move towards the slaughter hall.
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