90 cows die in two more shelters run by arrested BJP leader in Chhattisgarh

The fresh deaths were also allegedly caused due to starvation and lack of proper care.

Updated on: Aug 20, 2017, 01:23:59 IST

Hindustan Times, Bemetara | By Ritesh Mishra

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Ninety cow carcasses were found on Saturday in two more cow shelters run by Chhattisgarh BJP leader Harish Verma, who was arrested the day before for death of about 200 bovines in one of his cowsheds in the state’s Durg district.

Ninety more cow carcasses were found on Saturday in two shelters run by arrested BJP leader Harish Verma in Chhattisgarh. (HT Photo)

The fresh deaths were also allegedly caused due to starvation and lack of proper care.

A team of veterinary doctors found 70 cow carcasses at Phoolchandra Goshala in Godmarra village and 20 at Mayuri Goshala in Rano. The two villages are about 15 km from Rajapur’s Shagun Goshala where 200 cow deaths were earlier reported.

About 50 carcasses in Godmarra were dumped near a brickkiln, located some 200 meters from the cow shelter, while 20 others were found on the campus of the shelter, Dr Hemant Kumar, the district’s veterinary department in-charge, told HT.

At Rano all carcasses were found inside the shelter.

The arrested BJP leader blamed the state government for the deaths, saying the Chhattisgarh Gaw Seva Ayog failed to release pending funds to provide fodder to ailing animals.

The Aayog registered cases against Verma, accusing him of siphoning of Rs 1.65 crore given to three cowsheds run by him.

Verma is also vice-president of Jamul Nagar Nigam and has been running these cow shelters for several years.

A team of doctors on Saturday visited the cowsheds in two villages to ascertain the cause of deaths.

But angry villagers prevented them from carrying out the postmortem.

The villagers alleged that the district administration failed to respond when they informed it about failing health of cows due to lack of fodder and water.

“We had informed the administration about the condition of cows, but it was in vain,” Motilal Manikpur, head of Rano village, said.

Meanwhile, the police have registered separate cases against Verma and supervisors of the three cow shelters.

“BJP leader Harish Verma is linked with all the three cow sehlters where deaths have been reported and an investigation is on to find exact cause of so many deaths,” said inspector-general of police, Durg, Deepanshu Kabra.

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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