Attack by cow vigilantes in Bihar hits meat-beef supply in Kolkata

Kolkata, Aug 14 (IANS) The overall supply of both meat and beef in Kolkata has dipped by 25 to 30 per cent following the recent attack by cow vigilantes in Bihar, traders said on Monday.

According to the Calcutta Beef Dealers' Association, in the wake of attack on three men by alleged cow vigilantes on the suspicion of transporting beef in a truck in Bihar's Bhojpur district, traders in West Bengal are apprehensive about sourcing cattle from the neighbouring state.

"Earlier in the city's largest cattle trading hub in Ilambazar, we used to get around 30 lorries of cattle from Bihar every day... Now, if we get even three to four, then we feel lucky," said association's President Mohammed Ali.

He said the business was already on a downfall following the crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses in Uttar Pradesh.

"People directly employed in the cattle and slaughterhouse trade are now looking for other stable means of livelihood as any fresh incident brings uncertainty. The overall impact on supply to consumers is beginning to be felt now," said Ali.

"Since cattle are used for daily milk consumption as well, prices of cottage cheese (paneer) and milk have also increased in some places," he added.

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