Animal sacrifice at tribal festival despite prohibitory orders

For the second time in seven years a large number of animals and birds were slaughtered as sacrifice by tribals today during the Sulia festival despite imposition of prohibitory orders in Odisha's Balangir district.
The slaughter of buffaloes, goat, sheep and fowl was carried out at Khairgura, Hirlimal and Kumuria villages by the tribals armed with traditional weapons.
Though prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC were imposed at the main seat of the festival at all the three places, tribals carried out animal sacrifice at Bad Khala, about 25 km from here, reports said.
Sub Divisional Police Officer Narayan Naik said the administration had done everything it could do.

"Police arrangement was made to maintain law and order during the festival. Some sacrifice was performed, but we discouraged it so that it doesn't happen on a massive scale.
"All the three sites where sacrifice takes place were cordoned off by the police and people restrained from arriving with animals," Naik said.

Sulia Sanskar Manch, an outfit against animal sacrifice at the festival were not happy with the role of the administration this year.
"In past years at least the sacrifice had been completely stopped at the Bad Khala, the main seat of the deity. No sacrifice was allowed there for seven years.

"From last year again tribals carried it out. This is sheer failure of the administration," Manch leaders said.