Illegal meat traders slaughter 13 horses in Gajaria; gang flees after locals give chase
Gazaria Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Mahmudul Hasan said there is no provision for slaughtering horses under the "Animal Slaughter and Meat Quality Control Act, 2011".
A gang of illegal meat traders fled after being chased by locals in Munshiganj's Gazaria early this morning (8 March), leaving behind the carcasses of thirteen slaughtered horses.
The horses were recovered from an abandoned space behind the Palli Bidyut sub-station near Anarpura bus stand. One live horse, brought to the site for slaughter, was also rescued by the villagers.
Locals estimated that the slaughtered horses would have yielded at least 1,200kg (30 maunds) of meat.
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Confirming the incident, Gazaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Hasan Ali said police were immediately dispatched to the scene upon receiving the news, but the suspects had fled by then.
He added that the matter is being investigated with high priority.
Tofazzal Miaji, an eyewitness, said that "suspicious activities" had been occurring in the area for about six months. "Sensing something was amiss, the villagers kept a watch and managed to catch the gang red-handed in the morning. However, the gang members, including two accused identified as Titas and Rajib, managed to flee before the villagers' eyes."
Another witness, Nazmul Hossain, said that vehicles would arrive at the abandoned space late at night every Sunday and Wednesday. Villagers would often find blood and bones at the site the following morning.
It was later discovered that the gang slaughtered horses and supplied the meat in sacks to various hotels and sold it as beef. To hide the evidence, they used to bury the hides, bones, and entrails in pits.
Gazaria Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Mahmudul Hasan said there is no provision for slaughtering horses under the "Animal Slaughter and Meat Quality Control Act, 2011".
"We could not conduct a mobile court as no one was found at the scene. However, police have been directed to take legal action," he said.
The UNO further informed that the slaughtered remains would be buried in the presence of representatives from the Department of Livestock Services and local public representatives.
Meanwhile, agitated locals have demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the racket.
