22 cows die in Chhattisgarh shelter home; Jogi alleges cover-up, orders probe

In yet another incident of neglect in cow shelters, at least 22 cows died of “starvation and lack proper care” at a facility getting state aid in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district, prompting the Bharatiya Janata Party government to order a probe and weekly inspection of all shelters in the state.

Former state Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, who recently floated a new party Chhattisgarh Janata Congress, alleged that over 200 cows died in the government-aided shelter home in past three-four months and that the matter was being covered-up. He also sought a high-level probe.

The incident comes close on the heels of a similar case coming to light in BJP-ruled Rajasthan, where it was alleged that 100 cows had died in state-run Hingonia cow shelter due to “mismanagement and lack of facilities”.

Chhattisgarh’s Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal ordered an inquiry into the death of livestock at ‘Kamdhenu Gau Sewa’ centre at Karramad village in Durgkondal development block of Kanker, an official said on Sunday.

The directive in this regard was issued on Saturday evening following which the probe team on Sunday visited the cow shelter home, he said.

Agrawal has also asked animal husbandry department officials to conduct inspection of all cow shelter homes across the state every seventh day and ensure proper sanitation and hygiene there.

While Jogi’s party claimed that over 200 cows died at the shelter home in last three-four months, Kanker district collector said 22 cows died there since August 1.

“I have received information about death of 22 cows as of today morning since August 1 at Kamdhenu Gau Sewa shelter home,” Collector Shammi Abidi said.

Taking a serious note of the incident, Agrawal spoke to veterinary services director, Kanker collector, secretary and registrar of state Gau Sewa Ayog, besides other officials, and decided to send an investigation team to take stock of the situation at the shelter home, the official said, adding that the minister has asked for a probe report at the earliest.

Agrawal has also said that stern action will be taken against those found guilty for the death of animals after the inquiry, he mentioned.

According to Abidi, the inspection team was at the shelter home for investigation while four-five veterinary teams have also been pressed into service to take care of the other ailing cows there.

The exact cause of the deaths was yet to be ascertained as the blood samples of the carcasses have been sent to labs and reports are awaited, she further said.

However, prima facie it appears that the cows died of starvation and lack proper care as they were not fed properly, she said.

The shelter home was overcrowded as it has a capacity of around 80 animals against which nearly 300 animals were kept there, she said.

Meanwhile, the collector also slapped a notice on the shelter home’s owner seeking his response as to why he should be funded by government as he failed to feed the animals properly.

Agarwal also directed veterinary officials to provide proper medication to the livestock at regular intervals.

Ajit Jogi, while talking to reporters, alleged that, “Our team recently visited the shelter home and found that around 203 cows have died in past three months there. The owners buried the carcasses in haste at the premises itself to cover up the matter.”

He also alleged that the state government aid to the shelter home was being siphoned-off instead of being used for fodder or to treat the cattle.