Elderly Farmer's Bullock Slaughtered
“It was an innocent animal which didn’t do wrong to anyone and was grazing within my property,” Mr Reddy said.
Thursday 26 December 2024 | 10:07
Dharma Reddy showing the photo of the remains of his dead bullock at Wailevu, Labasa on December 24, 2024. Photo: Shratika Naidu
An elderly sugarcane farmer in Labasa, Dharma Reddy, 73, is pleading that Fijians celebrate the right spirit of Christmas.
This was after he found his bullock dead this week and skinned to the bone with only its head and intestines left.
Mr Reddy said someone in desperate need to have meat to feed his family must have committed the inhumane act.
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“It was an innocent animal which didn’t do wrong to anyone and was grazing within my property,” Mr Reddy said.
He walks every morning from his house in Wailevu for one hour and 30 minutes to go to his farm.
The father of two said it would be now difficult for him to plough land for the planting season.
“Two years ago, I bought two bullocks from Soasoa for about $5000 so that I can plough the land,” he said.
“Now with one bullock, how will I complete the work? I did report it at the Labasa Police Station, but I know nothing will be done because it is not the first time a sugarcane farmer’s livestock has been killed and meat stolen.”
He suggests people understand the real meaning of Christmas and not to be greedy to take a life of a living being to bring happiness to their family.
Police spokesperson Wame Bautolu confirmed that he has checked with the Labasa Police Station; no official report was lodged.
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