Once again, the self-proclaimed cow vigilantes (gau rakshaks) have used their muscle power and beaten the innocents badly. 20 milch cows of an agro company, which is based in Noida, were getting transported by Kochuveli-Guwahati Express to Ampati, Meghalaya, from their farm in Salem, Tamil Nadu. These cows were getting transported under the government’s orders.
On Wednesday night, the train reached Bhubaneswar station where around 25 vigilantes entered the train and attacked the caretakers of the cows. These vigilantes claimed to be the members of Bajrang Dal and were alleging that the cattle were being smuggled. The loco pilot of the train along with his assistant and two persons were thrashed by these cow vigilantes.
One of the caretakers, Umesh Singh, told,
“Without asking anything, the youths started beating me black and blue. They even manhandled a passenger and two railway staff before unloading all the 20 cows from the train.”
It has been confirmed by the Meghalaya government that the cows were transported under their orders.
This is what the Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary of Meghalaya, Dr. B Rijal, said,
“Our Chief Minister has launched a dairy mission to help farmers with milch cows. We have selected three companies through an e-tender process. Vertex Agro Private Limited is a big firm among them. It was sending us with the 20 cows from Salem.”
The Railway Police has lodged a complaint against the cow vigilantes; however, nobody has been taken into custody till now. The cows have been shifted to a cow shelter in Bhubaneswar.
It is high time that some serious action should be taken in this regard. What do you say?