Murdered for mutton

[Guest guest]

This is the story of Aleykutty a very low-profile animal lover and rescuer

from Pathanamthitta the district where the world famous Ayyappa temple is

situated.

According to reliable sources the lady was murdered by a group of butchers

who had been eyeing her goats. her helper was earlier done away in a like

manner.

There were around 50 goats with her but according to the Municipal chairman

the number has come down to 30.

The price of mutton has now gone upto more than Rs.200-250 and by the end of

the holy month of Ramzan a butcher can charge his own fancy price for a

kilo of local mutton.

The SPCA of Pathanamthitta which was defunct has now been revamped-it is

understood

with a new forthright D.M.at <http://d.m.at/> the helm.[He is recently

transferred to there.]

The D.M.Raju Narayanaswamy, a vegetarian by birth can effectively save the

remaining goats from being sold to the butchers by the municipality and

start the investigations in to the murder of Aleykutty and her helper.

 

 

Online edition of India's National Newspaper

Tuesday, Oct 09, 2007

ePaper <http://epaper.thehindu.com/>

[image: Google] <http://www.google.com/>

 

*Body of destitute woman found *

 

Staff Reporter

 

PATHANAMTHITTA: The body of a destitute woman, Aelikutty, who was living

at a public cemetery in Pathanamthitta municipal limits for the past three

decades, was found in a waterlogged pit near the cemetery on Monday.

 

Aelikutty, along with a herd of about 50 goats and a few dogs, lived in a

thatched shed on the cemetery premises. She collected banana skin from

nearby shops every day. Her disappearance was first noticed by the local

shopkeepers.

 

The body of a middle-aged man who assisted her in rearing the goats was

found in nearby bushes recently.

 

A cotton shawl was found tied around Aelikutty's neck, the police said.

 

The body has been sent to Kottayam Medical College for post-mortem

examination.

 

Protection for goats

Meanwhile, the Pathanamthitta municipality has taken up the protection of

30 goats belonged to the deceased, municipal chairman Zakir Hussein said.

 

Aelikutty had reportedly complained to the authorities about an attempt to

steal her goats some time ago.