LAHORE: Traders of sacrificial animals and officials of the Lahore Division Cattle Market Management Company traded allegations of misbehaving and beating each other over issues related to Congo virus, fodder, etc, at the Shahpur Kanjran cattle market here on Sunday.

The cattle market remained a scene of skirmishes and harsh arguments between traders and the company officials for about two hours.

Traders alleged that officials disallowed the entry of goats and fodder into the market besides misbehaving and torturing some of them.

The company officials claimed that their action was nothing more than a precautionary measure to avoid possible threat of Congo virus.

“The company officials have not only stopped our animals’ entry into the market but also tortured some of them physically,” Allah Yar, a trader, told media.

He also alleged that fodder for the sacrificial animals was also being sold at exorbitant rates in the market.

Company Managing Director Dr Ehtashamul Haq said whatever action taken by officials was in accordance with the instructions of the government on Congo virus.

“Actually a number of goats, sheep, etc coming from the southern part of the country carries tics that can cause spread of Congo virus. Obviously we cannot take risk by allowing traders from the south to bring their animals to the cattle market,” Mr Haq said.

He said the company also imposed a ban on the entry of such fodder into the market which the traders from the southern areas brought along with their animals as it also might cause the spread of virus. “In fact we don’t allow traders from any area to bring fodder with them as we have made it available inside the market. The step is taken only to avoid the spread of Congo virus,” he said.

He alleged that traders injured two officials for stopping them with unhealthy animals on the entry gates of the market.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2016

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