CHANDIGARH: Eight months after seven samples of biriyani from Mewat were sent to the Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Hisar, the samples were confirmed to contain cow/oxen meat.
Haryana Police and State Animal Husbandry Department officials had collected samples from seven traders in August 24, 2016, and send them to the university. On September 6, the university clarified that these samples were from the cattle species.
Sources said that the university on Monday wrote a letter to the head of Government Veterinary Hospital, Ferozepur Jhirka in Mewat which states, “It is clarified that the term 'cattle' mentioned in this report refers to cow/oxen.’’
Confirming that the university had sent a clarification to concerned government authorities, Dr. Y Singh, head of the Department of Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology in the university denied sharing any further details.
On May 2, Naresh Kadyan, representative of the International organisation for Animal Protection had filed a police complaint to the CM as well to the Ferozepur Jhirka police alleging that State government officials were going slow in acting against the biryani traders.
Kadyan further alleged that the samples were carried out without officials of food and safety and the health department, whose presence is mandatory in such matters.
Naresh Kadyan told the New Indian Express that he had a zero FIR registered on Sunday against the seven traders and a doctor from Mewat in Delhi.
In his complaint to the Delhi Police, he stated that seven samples of beef biryani were sent to Hissar for scientific confirmation by Dr. Amar Singh Solanki, Veterinary Surgeon, Ferozepur Jhirka and all samples were lifted in the absence of a food safety officer and health department officials.
As per the report of the beef biryani samples, which were obtained by Dr Solanki under the directions of the Gau Seva Ayog and kept without lodging an FIR despite the scientific reports against all seven offenders, makes it a cognisable offense.
“You can slaughter cow progeny in Haryana with license and eat beef for medicinal purpose, carrying beef products with license, under Haryana Prohibition on Cow Slaughter Rules, 1972 without any punishment for the violation of section 19 of the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015,” Naresh Kadyan said.