40 cows die due to suffocation in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur

Bilaspur district magistrate (DM) Dr. Saransh Mittar said a first information report (FIR) has been filed.

Updated on: Jul 25, 2020, 14:32:16 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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Around 40 cows, which were kept in a claustrophobic panchayat bhawan in a village in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district, have died due to suffocation, officials said on Saturday.

Bilaspur district magistrate (DM) Dr. Saransh Mittar said a first information report (FIR) has been filed.

Senior officials have also reached the spot to assess the situation on the ground.

The district authorities have rescued 20 bovines from the panchayat bhawan at Medapar village in Bilaspur’s Takhatpur, Dr. Mittar said.

“Preliminary information has revealed that 60 cattle were kept in the claustrophobic panchayat bhawan in the village for the last couple of days by the sarpanch. We have rescued 20 of them, while 40 have died due to suffocation,” Dr. Mittar said.

A team of veterinarians has reached the village and are attending to the rescued bovines.

“The sarpanch put the cattle inside the panchayat bhawan without seeking the owners’ permission. An FIR has been registered and the cattle owners will get adequate compensation,” he added.

Police have reached the spot and carcasses of the cows are being taken out from the panchayat bhawan.

“An FIR has been registered as per the DM’s instruction. An investigation has started,” said Prashant Agarwal. superintendent of police (SP), Bilaspur.

In June, the Chhattisgarh government had launched the “Roka-Chheka Abhiyan” in all villages in the state, which seeks to revive the traditional agricultural methods and to save Kharif crops from open grazing by stray cattle.

The state government is aware that many villages in the state do not have cowsheds and cattle owners are likely to face major difficulties because of the ban on grazing to save Kharif crops.

The government has come to the cattle owners’ rescue and is building 5,000 cowsheds across the state under the Suraaji Gaon Yojana.

The government has appealed to all sarpanches to ensure cattle remain in cowsheds, when the ban on open grazing is in force.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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