New Delhi: In a move which may further fuel the debate over slaughtering of certain bovines in the country, the defence ministry has asked the army to stop the practice of ritual killing of buffaloes carried out by some of its units.
According to an ET report on Friday, the ministry has instructed the army to put an end to the practice of beheading a male buffalo (Rango) during Dussehra which is attributed mostly to the Gurkha tradition.
"No doubt it is an old tradition but the tradition is now against Indian law. There are laws that govern slaughter and sacrificing an animal in such a manner is against the rules," ET quoted a top ministry official as saying.
The report, citing sources, further said that the instructions were sent earlier this month. The government view is that the ritual amounts to cruelty.
"It is understood that there may be some who wish to carry out this tradition but rules should not be bent. If there is such a need, rules can be followed and the animal can be taken to government authorized slaughter houses as per the law," the report quoted a source as saying.
