According to doctors present at the spot, cows died due to “starvation and lack of medicines”. BJP leader Harish Verma, who runs the shelter, attributed the deaths to a wall collapse two days ago
A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was arrested on Friday after at least 200 cows died allegedly of starvation and lack of medicines at his cow shelter in Rajpur village of Chhattisgarh’s Durg district.
The officials have, so far, confirmed 30 starvation-related deaths.
Villagers, however, alleged that the number of deaths would be 200 and most of them have been buried near the shelter. Several carcasses, other than those buried, were found in the vicinity, they alleged.
The BJP leader, Harish Verma, who is also the vice president of Jamul Nagar Nigam, has been running the shelter for last seven years.
“He was arrested on Friday evening after being charged under sections 4 and 6 of Chhattisgarh Agricultural Cattle Preservation act -2004, Section 11 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and Section 409 of Indian Penal Code (IPC),” police said.
“We noticed JCB machines operating near the cow shelter two days ago and we informed some media persons. When we reached here, we found that many trenches were being dug to bury the dead cows lying on the ground. They were at least 200 in number,” said Seva Ram Sahu, the Rajpur Sarpanch’s husband.
According to the doctors present at the spot, cows died due to “starvation and lack of medicines”.
However, the BJP leader, Harish Verma attributed the deaths to collapsing of a wall two days ago.
“At this stage, the reason behind the cow deaths seems to be lack of fodder. The post mortem of 27 cows have been done in last two days, “ said MK Chawala , deputy director , veterinary department of Durg district.
“The cows buried near the shelter are yet to be exhumed,” he said.
The main opposition Congress has alleged around 300 cows have died in Mr Verma’s shelter home in the past three days.
“According to local villagers, around 300 cows have died of starvation and lack proper care as they were not fed properly in the ‘gaushala’,” state Congress spokesperson RP Singh said and demanded a high-level probe into the matter.
Another 50 cows, said to be critical, are being treated. “The number of deaths may rise ,” the doctor added.
A local sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) , Rajesh Ratre, claimed the exact death figures are yet to ascertained and investigation were on.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/200-cows-die-of-starvation-at-a-shelter-run-by-bjp-leader-in-chhattisgarh/story-C1fxj4Pj4DgOcGAtmbBdTN.html
August 21, 2017 at 4:24 pm
The deaths of cows due to starvation reflects the pathetic upkeep of their food requirements by the so- called cow protectors. The catle is being forced to die hungry