The Telangana government has said it will take action against people who slaughter cows during Bakr-Eid or Eid al-Adha.

The state Animal Husbandry Department has issues a circular in Hyderabad, stating that those who violate the Prohibition of Cow Slaughter and Animal Preservation Act will be punished. The circular also says that cows play a pivotal role in rural development.

"This is to inform the public that nobody should indulge in meting out cruelty to animals and killing of cows. Anybody found involved in those acts, will be punishable as per law," the notification read, the Deccan Chronicle reports.

The government has urged the public to inform police if such incidents were noticed. Animal Husbandry Department Director, D. Venkateswarlu said that the department would take steps to prevent slaughtering of cows as meat consumption is high in the festival season.

"We along with police and GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation), are conducting surprise checks to see if the laws are violated. No female animal of any kind should be slaughtered during the season while cows should not be killed anytime," he told DC.