PESHAWAR, Oct 26: The business of sacrificial animals reached its climax on Friday, the day before Eidul Azha, as people thronged cattle markets set up in parts of the provincial capital.

Vendors established illegal cattle sales points at locations close to the population to attract customers and earn much.

Some groups of people wielding sticks in their hands were seen collecting illegal tax from buyers.

It was observed that those purchasing animals along the railway tracks near Nauthia in Gulberg area were made to pay illegal tax otherwise they were not allowed to move ahead.

Incidents of scuffles and heated exchanges were also witnessed as people said contract for collecting the tax had not been awarded to anyone.

“The same group also collected illegal tax from the people last year claiming to have support of a political group,” shouted a furious man, holding the string of an ox.

The sticks wielders were also shouting and abusing, saying they had got contract from local government and would continue collecting the money. The animal rates at sales points remained very high compared to the main cattle market on Ring Road.

Most vendors at sales points said they were not regular businessmen of the livestock but tides of time and inflation had forced them to jump into this casual business at least to earn some money for meeting the expenditure of Eidul Azha.

The buyers seemed very disappointing as they didn’t expect such high rates even on the day before Eid.

“We visited three sales points and also main Ring Road cattle market and observed that the rates have been increased by around Rs15000 compared to the previous year,” said Yasir, a resident of Gulbahar area.

Businessmen also complained against the contractor of Ring Road Cattle Market, saying each of them paid Rs30 entry fee for per animal and when they tried to take back animals, they were forced to pay Rs700 more.

Similarly, butchers have raised their demand from Rs2,000 to Rs4,000 or above this year.

“Last year, we charged Rs2,000 and Rs2,500 for an animal of normal size but as inflation continued to rise it also compelled to revise the wages,” said Arshad, a resident of Dalazak Road.

Another butcher, Murad Khan of Nahqai-Charsadda Road, who claimed to be more professional, said he used to catch his customers from the cattle market but on Eidul Azha, he had permanent customers at the posh locality of Hayatabad.

“We are two partners and butcher from 10 to 15 animals on the first day of Eid,” he claimed. He said he charged Rs2000 for butchering goat and sheep and from Rs5,000 to Rs7,000 for butchering ox and cow.

The butcher said camels were rarely slaughtered in Peshawar and he would demand more that Rs7,000 for that.

Drivers of vans were also seen overcharging. They charged a minimum of Rs500 for transporting a animal.

Some butchers at Nauthia Bazaar refused to take orders, saying they had already commitments with the people and had to visit different localities on the first and second days of Eid.

Blacksmiths also increased rates for sharpening knives, axes and cleavers. They almost doubled the prices of new knives but even then, people were seen buying them.