Phagwara, December 10, 2024 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau)- Twenty cows died while 28 others fell unconscious under mysterious circumstances after taking cattle feed at Shri Krishan Gaushala here on Sunday night.
Several Hindu leaders, including Shiv Sena’s Inderjit Karwal, Deepak Bhardwaj, Kamal Saroj and Yogesh Parbhakar, rushed to the gaushala, alleging that some miscreants had poisoned the animals. They demanded that the miscreants be arrested soon. SP Rupinder Kaur Bhatti said the police had started an investigation. She said the carcasses had been sent to GADVASU University, Ludhiana, for the post-mortem examination while the ill cows were being treated locally.
Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal and Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora, who also rushed to the spot, said on a complaint filed by gaushala manager Satnam Singh, the police had registered a case under Sections 299 and 325 of the BNS and 11 under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
Meanwhile, on a call given by Hindu organisations, complete bandh was observed in Phagwara on Monday. Shops and commercial establishments remained closed the whole day.
All lawyers belonging to Phagwara Bar Association, headed by Karanjot Singh Jhikka, also observed ‘no work day’ to protest against the killing of cows.
Punjab Shiv Sena national president Sanjeev Dhanuli and chairman Rajiv Tandon met DGP (Law & Order) Arpit Shukla and submitted a memorandum seeking the immediate arrest of the accused.
Politicians like Vijay Sampla, Som Parkash and Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal also visited the Gaushala.
On the other hand, Shiv Sena leaders gave an ultimatum to the police administration to arrest the culprits by Thursday otherwise the party would be forced to intensify the stir. Heavy police force was seen deployed in each and every corner of the city.
Chugh demands probe
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh today demanded an investigation by central agencies to ascertain the reasons for poisoning of cows in Phagwara.
Terming it a glaring failure of the state law and order forces, Chugh said the incident had only unravelled hidden plans of the anti-social elements to hurt the Hindu sentiments.
Under the AAP government headed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, such disruptive elements had been having a field play to disturb the law and order situation in the border state, said Chugh.
He said the AAP government had handed over the state to criminals which was a matter of serious concern.
He said anti-Hindu forces had been working in the state for long and it’s time that the state security forces control them to prevent any further deterioration of the situation.
He said it was an unprecedented incident where cows had been targeted to spark communal violences in the state.
Summary: A bandh was called in Phagwara following the discovery of 22 dead cows in a gaushala, sparking protests and demands for accountability.