In Hyderabad, livestock traders preparing for the Bakrid festival face issues with organized gangs and “local leaders” demanding money.
Temporary cattle markets pop up in areas like Chanchalguda, Falaknuma, Barkas, Tolichowki, Khilwat, Petlaburj, Langer Houz, Bandlaguda, Jahanuma playground, Mallepally, and Yakutpura. Traders claim that on Tuesday night, while setting up a sheep stall on a footpath in Malakpet, strangers asked for money. Akhlaq Ahmed, a trader, shared, “I set up a shop, and a group demanded Rs 5,000. After arguing, I had to pay since my stall was already there.”
Many traders at Chanchalguda report that unknown people force them to pay. Similar incidents occur in Falaknuma, Khilwat, Jahannuma, and Chandrayangutta, where traders face demands for large sums.
Shahid Ali, another trader, experienced similar trouble. He said, “In Falaknuma and Jahannuma, unknown people and local leaders collect Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 from each livestock trader.”
Amjedullah Khan, spokesperson for Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT), mentioned that during Bakrid, traders face harassment and extortion by rowdy elements and patrol car constables. He noted, “Rowdy harassment is worse than gau rakshaks.”
Traders also accuse some police officers of demanding money even before livestock is unloaded from vehicles.
A trader from Chandrayangutta lamented, “We work during the festival to earn, but with this harassment and extortion, we’ll have nothing left.”
Similar issues arise in major markets like Pahadishareef and Jalpally, where miscreants reportedly collect money from traders.
