Mangalore: Cattle theft menace - VHP, Bajrang Dal put forth four demands

Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)

Mangalore, Aug 6: The Vishwa Hindu Parishat (VHP) and Bajrang Dal (BD) have set forth four major demands before the state government following the increase in cattle thefts in recent days. These demands were revealed to the media on Tuesday August 6 at Hotel Woodlands. Victims of cattle theft were also present along with VHP and BD leaders on the occasion.

The four major demands are - cattle theft victims must be compensated with Rs 50,000 each; cattle breeders should be permitted to use rifle to safeguard their cattle; a special team or branch of police has to be formed to completely stop this cattle theft menace; ‘Gram-Goraksha Dal’, a unique team comprising of villagers needs to be set up.

Addressing the media, Prof M B Puranik, state president, VHP, Karnataka, said, “Earlier in 2007, as per records, the total cattle population was around 4,12,000 and in 2012 the number had declined to 2,58,000; a drastic downfall of nearly 1,50,000 in number. This is, in fact, a clear cut indication that the cattle are in danger.”

“The state government has completely failed to take steps for the protection of the cattle. The number of illegal slaughter houses is increasing at an alarming rate. The state government and the police have to be alert and do something to curb this menace at the earliest. Check posts and squads need to be set up to have proper control over the issue. Police always ask the Hindu outfits not to take law in their hands and do any intolerable activities and instead to either inform or intimate them if any such incident is happening. But even if we inform them, the possibility of the police to stop the incident is just one in ten,” he added.

The cattle thieves have even come up to the level of showing swords, threatening and stealing the cattle, even then the police have failed to take any steps against the culprits. The last communal fight had taken place with issues relating to cattle theft. In order to avoid such untoward incidents, the authorities must go through this issue carefully,” added Puranik.

The victims who have lost their cattle were also present on the occasion and shared their bitter experiences and the pain of losing their dear cattle.

Sharing his pain, cattle breeder Mucchuru Vidhyadhar Hegde said that his compound has a 6.5 ft high wall and a big metal gate as well as dogs. But still the cattle thieves have managed to enter the compound and steal three high-yielding cows from the shed. It is clear that they have taken the cattle out of the compound by leading them out and later they have loaded it on some vehicle. Due to the missing of these cattle, I have been incurring a loss of nearly 50 to 60 liters of milk per day,” he said.

Antony D’Souza, a resident of Jappinamogaru, said that three of his cattle have gone missing in one rainy night, despite having three dogs in the compound.

Mahadevi, resident of Surathkal Kana, said that she has being carrying out cattle breeding for nearly 18 years. A few days ago, at night, they heard some sound and the dogs barking. When they stepped out to check, she found some miscreants forcibly loading their cattle on a tempo. When her children ran out to stop them, the culprits showed them swords and threatened to kill them if they stepped forward. She said that she later informed the police through 100, who in turn came to the spot and chased the culprits but were unable to trace them and lost track of them. Mahadevi said that the whole of her livelihood had to be carried out with the help of these cattle, but since she has lost them, the government must give her some compensation.

Ram Prasad Ucchil says that on the morning of May 9, 2013, when his mother went to the shed to milk the cows, she found her cows missing. Later, they found that a foot of the cow had been cut and kept near the ‘Tulsi Katte’.  The missing cows used to yield nearly 15 to 16 litres of milk per day. They then informed the police, who in turn visited the spot and promised to do the needful. MLA and health minister also visited the spot immediately.

Sharath, a resident of Mudipu said that as per Hindu rituals, a cow has to be taken into the house during the house warming ceremony. For this purpose, he had taken a cow from the ‘Goshala’. This cow that had been tied outside the house last night and was found missing the next morning.

“The memorandum will be submitted to the respective authorities. A meeting with the leaders and members of the outfit will be carried to discuss the issue,” said Jagadish Shenava, district secretary, VHP.

Leaders Sharan Pumpwell, Jithendra Kottary, Dinesh Pai, Gopal Kuthar, Bhujanga Kulal, Pradeep Pumpwell, Puneeth Pumpwell, and Pramod Suvarna were present.