Animal Sacrifice in Kalighat: Science and Rationalists Association files FIR

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*Animal sacrifice in public, Rationalist Association files Police complaint*

*Staff Reporter: Ignoring the recent High Court order, there have been

animal sacrifices offered in public and the Rationalist Association has

taken up the issue. A police complaint has been filed. Says Probir Ghosh,

General Secretary of the Science and Rationalists Association of India, " On

15th September, the High Court division bench has given an order notifying

animal sacrifice in public as a punishable offence. The notice was given to

the priests of the Kalighat temple. But inspite of the notice, on the day of

the Kali Puja on Saturday, three goats were sacrificed within ten minutes

after 3 o'clock in the afternoon. " Ghosh revealed that an FIR has been

lodged on behalf of the Rationalists Association. An investigative team from

the Science and Rationalists Association went to the Kalighat Temple and

obtained photographs of animals being sacrificed in public. The matter has

been raised with the Mayor of Kolkata, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya. Probir

Ghosh opines, " We wanted to know how there could have been animal sacrifice

despite the High Court order. " Naturally, this action has given birth to

controversy in the midst of a festive atmosphere.*

**

* - Songbad

Protidin, 23rd October,2006, Monday.*

**

* Published

in the September/October issue of the newsletter of the Science and

Rationalists Association of India, " WE ARE RATIONALISTS', page 1.*

**

*My comments: I met the Secretary of the Rationalists Association and the

the Executive Chairman of Legal Aid Services, West Bengal recently to

discuss the non compliance of the law regarding animal sacrifice. They have

both assured me that further steps are being taken to stop the practice. The

anti animal sacrifice campaign is going strong in West Bengal and The

Science and Rationalists Association is taking an active part in the

process. New moves are afoot.*