Worried over rampant trading of chickens in the bird flu affected blocks in the state, the state animal resources department has asked the authorities of all districts to stop the payment of compensation to the backyard poultry owners who are still involved in trading of chickens. The state government had announced that all kind of poultry activity and trading of chickens would be banned in the bird flu affected 48 blocks and five municipalities for the next three months as per the international protocol while lifting state wide ban on transportation and trading of chickens on 12 February. The ban was imposed on 5 February. However, the state animal resources department was in trouble after it received reports that trading of chickens started in the affected blocks as soon as the statewide ban was lifted. The state ARD minister, Mr Anisur Rahman, visited the affected districts to inquire whether all norms were being followed in the post culling operation period. He also received complaints that illegal chicken trading was in full swing in the affected blocks. Immediately after that the state animal resources department sent a directive saying the backyard poultry owners involved in trading of chickens should not get compensation. Officials of the animal resources department said the step was initiated after it was realised that few backyard poultry owners who kept their chickens away from the rapid response teams during the culling operation were involved in this illegal trading of chickens. The backyard poultry owners are being held responsible because transportation of chickens have been banned in these blocks and that's why chickens can not enter the blocks from outside. Officials also said that in many areas compensation money has already been disbursed and in these areas names of errant backyard poultry owners could be omitted from the list according to which interim relief will be given. The minister said he has asked the district magistrates not to give compensation money to those who are still carrying out trading of chickens in the affected blocks.