Bovine of contention: Two villages near Chandigarh lock horns over a bull

While Sadhpura residents made money, business of a few men from the neighbouring village of Dang Dehra was hit.

A bull has become the bone of contention between residents of two villages near Lalru in Mohali district. Sadhpura village pooled in Rs 1 lakh to buy a Murrah bull, a sought-after buffalo breed, two years ago.

Three men of Dang Dehra have been booked after they left Sadhpura’s Murrah bull with a swollen eye. (HT Photo)

Charging Rs 500 for mating a buffalo, the villagers soon started attracting dairy farmers from the neighbouring villages. But while Sadhpura residents made money, business of a few men from the neighbouring village of Dang Dehra was hit.

What followed over a year has finally led to the registration of a case of cruelty to animal and public nuisance at the Lalru police station. The main accused has been arrested. Dharam Singh, the sarpanch of Sadhpura, said in his complaint to the police that Mukhtiar Singh of Dang Dehra and his aides have attacked the bull thrice in the past one year.

Resham said after Mukhtiar and his aides attacked the bull the previous two times, the matter was settled after calling a common panchayat. “Earlier, they used to apologise,” he said. “But this time they attacked the bull brutally.”

Sarpanch Dharam Singh said the accused attacked the bull with lathis, damaging its right eye. “When we complained to the Dang Dehra sarpanch and asked him to rein in his villagers, he again wanted a settlement,” he said. Police have booked Mukhtiar Singh and his aides Manjit Singh, alias Minu, and Harjeet Singh under Sections 290 (public nuisance) and 511 (attempting to commit offences) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

“We have arrested Mukhtiar and will nab others too,” said investigating officer Raj Singh. “We have also recorded statements of two witnesses.”