BENGALURU: Tension gripped Bengaluru’s Chamarajapet Sunday after miscreants cut the udders of three cows in Vinayakanagar near Old Pension Mohalla on Saturday night. Following the incident, residents, rights activists and BJP workers staged a protest.
Cottonpet police have registered a case against unknown persons under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’s Section 325 (mischief by killing or maiming animal) and are making efforts to nab the miscreants. The cows were taken to the veterinary hospital where all three animals were declared out of danger.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah said animal cruelty is an offence and those responsible will be identified and punished. The police commissioner has been instructed to identify the culprits and take legal action against them, he added. The CM was responding to BJP’s R Ashoka’s statement that his party will observe ‘black Sankranti’ on Jan 14 if govt fails to take action against the miscreants.
Home minister G Parameshwara said he has sought a report from police and instructed the DCP to take action as per the law.
According to Karna, the owner of the cows, the incident took place around midnight. As was the practice, he had tethered the cows by the road behind a temple near his house in Vinayakanagar.
He learnt about the incident around 4am when neighbours alerted him. He rushed to the spot to find the cows bleeding. One cow was not able to stand as the miscreants had hit one of its legs with a lethal weapon.
“I sat at the spot in shock. Later, I lodged a complaint with Cottonpet police station. I suspect the cruel act was to avenge my presence in a protest against the closure of a veterinary hospital on Mysuru Road six months ago. I had taken these injured cows for the protest, demanding the hospital not be closed,” Karna said.
A senior police officer said the miscreants had cut one or two teats in each of the three cows. There are no CCTV cameras at the spot. “We are verifying footage from surrounding areas and have secured some clues about the miscreant. We’ve formed a team to nab the miscreants at the earliest,” he added.
DCP (West) Girish S said a case has been registered at Cottonpet police station and the investigation is in progress.
Soon after the incident came to light, hundreds of residents staged a protest against the miscreants and police. The residents claimed that the miscreants take drugs in the area and often attack the cows.
The activists stated it is a deliberate act ahead of Sankranti festival during which cows are worshipped. They alleged followers of an influential person are behind the attack. “If anyone has anger against me, let them face me. Why assault the innocent cows which cannot speak or express their pain?” Karna, a third-generation dairy farmer, said.
“Last year, the miscreants put a pipe in the anus of the cows, and we complained to the police. Now, ahead of Sankranti, they have done this cruel act,” lamented Karna’s sister.
