Tuesday, October 11 2005 14:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kendrapara (Orissa): Scores of animals were sacrificed as part of the Dussehra ritual in at least two shrines of Kendrapara district late last night (Oct 10, 2005) inspite of the groundswell of opinion favouring abolition of the age-old custom.

Animal rights activists had earlier made a fervent plea for discontinuation of the practice before the deities while seeking the intervention of the district authorities in the matter as it violated the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

''The superstitious belief prevailed as hundreds of animals were slaughtered last night,'' Bijay Kabi, one of the animal rights activists alleged.

''The civil and police administration simply ignored our plea and it showed as officials of lower rank, policemen and local panchayat representatives were present at the two shrines where the sacrifices were made,'' he claimed.

A buffalo and over 100 goats were butchered at the 12th century Panchubarahi temple at the seaside Satabhaya village and the Ma Jagulai shrine at Osaranga which was watched by a crowd of over 10,000, he claimed.

The animal sacrifices were confirmed by the district police, which said that it had not been given any instruction by the authorities to stop the practice.