A Health Inspector was suspended on Thursday for allegedly giving clearance to a lorry carrying three dead cattle, which were being brought to Kerala from Tamil Nadu for edible purposes.
“Official K V Thomas, of Kumily Animal Husbandry check-post, was suspended for giving clearance to the lorry carrying 13 cattle, out of which three were found dead on Wednesday,” V A Jose of the Animal Husbandry Office told Express.
He said that it was the duty of the official to ensure proper inspection of the lorry before giving clearance to the vehicle at the inter-state check-post at Kumily.
“The check-post was set up to ensure that animals being brought into the state are safe and are not carrying any disease,” he added.
The matter assumes seriousness as the three arrested persons, including the driver, have alleged that they were allowed to pass through after paying bribe at the check-post, police sources said. According to Jose, the post-mortem examination on the dead cattle revealed that they had died owing to dehydration and hunger. The cattle were being brought from Pondicherry and were to be taken to different slaughterhouses in Idukki and other areas. Lab tests were also being conducted to ascertain if the dead cattle were suffering from any diseases, he said. The arrested persons include cattle dealer Prem Navas of Kavalam in Alappuzha, lorry owner Palaniraj and driver Sivaperumal of Tamil Nadu.
The arrest was effected after a lawyer travelling behind the lorry got suspicious and alerted the police. The lorry was apprehended at Peermedu by the police.
Meanwhile, District Collector T Bhaskaran said that strict action would be taken against all those who were found guilty in the case.
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