the goan I network
PANAJI
Almost 8,000 kgs of beef worth around Rs 2 crore was confiscated and destroyed by officials during raids that were carried out at five different places in the State in the last 14 months.
This information was provided by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to a question raised by Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa in the Assembly.
Parrikar said 7,780 kgs of beef that had been confiscated in 5 raids were destroyed by authorities from April 1, 2017 till date.
In December 2017, police swooped down on a vehicle at Panaji and seized 1,300 kgs of beef that was claimed to have been illegally brought into the state. The driver of the vehicle Subhani Desai was arrested.
In January 2018, another 1,530 kgs of beef were seized at Valopi and the same person who was transporting it -- Subhani Desai -- was arrested.
The reply further says, as per documents, around 150 kgs of beef was confiscated at Verna in December 2017 and Tanvir Bepari and Babulal Bepari were arrested while in May and June 2018 two raids were conducted at different places in Bicholim where 300 kgs and 4,500 kgs of beef were confiscated. In both these raids 5 persons were arrested -- Abdul Bepari, Imran Bepari, Inyush Desai, Dadapir Bepari and Suhel Bepari.
Police have been carrying out regular raids on beef consignments coming into the state after animal rights activists cried foul over the illegal transportation. They claimed that the transporters had no proper documents and valid certificates from veterinary doctors for procurement of beef. The vehicles too did not have proper cold storage facilities and were unhygienic, it was claimed.
