Valley to sacrifice 5 lakh animals today

SRINAGAR: This Bakr Eid five lakh animals worth Rs 127 crores will be sacrificed in Kashmir, a jump of 20 per cent from last year.

Jammu and Kashmir is the only Muslim majority state in the country and on Bakr Eid almost all affluent people sacrifice animals which also marks the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage.

According to the Animal Husbandry Department, nearly 2.5 lakh sheep worth Rs 62.50 crore, 2.25 lakh goat worth Rs 47.50 crore and 22,000 cattle worth Rs 47.50 crore will be sacrificed on Eid-ul-Izha this year.

“The Eid brings cheers to the animal suppliers in and outside Kashmir”, says Satvir Gupta, director of Animal Husbandry  department. “Fifty per cent of animals are imported and rest of the demand is met by the local suppliers,” he added. “The demand for sheep and goat is increasing and the shortage is being met by imports from Rajasthan”, says Gupta.

With demand increasing some unscrupulous elements import weak and ailing animals. Following this phenomenon, the Jammu and Kashmir government has set-up special checking teams to monitor the supplies.