Over 200 Cows Die Of Starvation In Chattisgarh Shelter Run By BJP Leader

Chhattisgarh police have arrested a local BJP leader Harish Verma after more than 200 cattle death were reported from a cow shelter owned by him in 48 hours.

BCCL/ Representational Image

Verma was arrested on Friday after it emerged that the death was caused by lack of care and fodder. The shelter, which Verma has been running for over seven years in Rajpur was overcrowded with more than 650 cows against the capacity of 220, and the animals were not taken care of properly.

Verma however blamed the lack of government support for the deaths.?

“I had intimated the government many a time that I am not able to feed them, but all went in vain. More than Rs. 10 lakh meant for the cow shelter is pending with the government and they have not granted it till now. I am not guilty for the deaths”.

Even though locals claim more than 200 cows died due to starvation and lack of medicines at the shelter in the past couple of days the authorities have only confirmed only 27 starvation-related deaths.

BCCL/ Representational Image

Raipur's Sarpanch Pati Sevaram Sahu alleged that he found many trenches were being dug to bury the dead cows lying around, which made them suspicious.

"We noticed J.C. Bamford (JCB) machines operating near the cow shelter two days ago and informed media persons. When we reached here, we found that many trenches were being dug to bury the dead cows lying around. The cows buried near the shelter are yet to be exhumed," he said.