NewsR Staff
Bilaspur, July 25
Over 50 cows died allegedly of suffocation in a shelter run by the village panchayat in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district.
The Stray cows were kept in a shelter as per a directive of the Chhattisgarh government that had launched a slew of schemes to protect cattle. About 60 animals were herded into a room inside the shelter of the old panchayat building in Medpar village under Takhatpur development block.
The room did not have the capacity to shelter 60 cows that probably resulted in suffocation. The villagers noticed foul smell coming from the shelter on Saturday and found that the animals were dead.
Bilaspur Collector Saransh Mittar said an inquiry had been ordered and offence had been registered against the panchayat officials. The police have registered a case under provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and section 429 (mischief by killing or maiming cattle) of the IPC, he said.
The preliminary investigation and the autopsy report suggested that the cows died of suffocation. The condition of remaining cows was stable.
The incident sparked off heated political debate as Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik castigated the Bhupesh Baghel government. “The state government is concentrating much on publicity of cow scheme rather than effectively implementing it,” he said.
The Congress spokesperson said the state government took a prompt action and would not spare anyone found guilty after the probe.
