VHP claims to have saved 40k cows in MP

INDORE: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s convenor Sohan Vishwakarma claims to have saved 40,000 cows in Madhya Pradesh since 2009 hinting at the well organised cow vigilante

Published on: Jul 28, 2016, 10:24:21 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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INDORE: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s convenor Sohan Vishwakarma claims to have saved 40,000 cows in Madhya Pradesh since 2009 hinting at the well organised cow vigilante network in Madhya Pradesh.

On Wednesday, the lab test showed that the meat recovered from two women in Mandsaur was buffalo meat, which can be sold and transported in the state. Police officers told HT that in most cases of cow vigilantism, the cow meat turns out to be buffalo meat and traders have to face harassment from right wing groups.

Vishwakarma said VHP has a wing named ‘Bharatiya go vansh rakhshan samvardhan parishad” to curb illegal cow slaughter.

“The cases of cow slaughter are increasing. Mostly we inform police before raiding the spot and they send a team with us. At times they hush-up the case, despite intimation from us, hence we prefer acting on our own and then calling in the police,” said Vishwakarma.

He said the group never made a mistake in identifying the meat. “We don’t trust veterinary doctors. Police should send the meat to laboratories,” said Vishwakarma, who hold the post of malwa prant, who heads 26 districts of the group in western MP.

While there is no direct financial incentive for saving cows, the MP government’s scheme of funding cow shelters indirectly funds vigilantism. The state funds over 100 cow shelters mostly getting animals rescued by the vigilante groups.

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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