Bulls, pigs, 10 tonnes beef seized in Goa

PANAJI - A consignment of nine bulls and 64 pigs meant for slaughter and nearly 10 tonnes of beef being illegally brought into Goa from Karnataka was seized by police Monday, officials said.

The raid was conducted by the police in association with the Akhil Vishwa Jai Sri Ram Gau Sanvardhan Kendra, a Goa-based NGO, which promotes conservation of cows and conducts awareness campaigns against cow slaughter.

We have arrested eight people who were with the meat and livestock consignment, which did not have legal permit. The meat has been confiscated and sealed and will be destroyed after the formalities are carried out, a police official said. Three vehicles, including two trucks meant to transport the livestock, were also seized by the police at the Mollem checkpost, on the Goa-Karnataka border.

This is the second major raid in recent times where a large quantity of meat has been seized. Despite a population of just 13 lakh, Goa consumes copious volumes of beef and pork, thanks to its meat and fish loving populace as well as abundant tourism-oriented outlets specialising in global cuisines.