Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, July 15: The truck drivers carrying sheep and goats from different parts of country to Kashmir held a protest demonstration at Lakhanpur against the authorities who along with veterinary officers conducted checking of the vehicles and brought down the extra sheep and goats from trucks which were carrying the load beyond the prescribed norms.
According to reports, the Government has ordered that no truck should carry over 135 sheep or goat as the same amounts to cruelty to animals. The reports said that some trucks were even carrying about 200 sheep and goats and to implement the Government order in letter and spirit all the trucks were stopped at Lakhanpur for checking and extra goats and sheep were brought down and put in separate trucks to be carried to Valley.
This evoked a strong protest from drivers of trucks who said that they have been carrying the same load as per routine and termed it high handedness of the authorities. However to counter the truck drivers some local youth also took to streets and held a counter protest saying that they will not allow the cruelty to animals at any cost.
When contacted the SHO Lakhanpur said that they have to implement the Government directive which is that no truck should be allowed to carry more than 135 animals. He said some sheep and goat which were in overloaded trucks had died also.
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