‘Bloody gaushalas’: BJP neta fed dead cow skin to fish

RAIPUR

: The mass cow deaths at a Durg gaushala (cow shed) took a gory turn on Saturday when allegations surfaced that the owner, BJP leader Harish Verma, used to skin cow carcasses to feed fish in his pond and that he may be involved in cattle trafficking as well.

No official would come on record on these allegations, but a senior official of

Chhattisgarh

Gau Sewa Aayog confirmed that they were probing these charges against Verma. An autopsy report says that the cows died due to starvation and thirst.

While CM Raman Singh ordered a fresh probe into the case and ordered inspection of all cow shelters, state agriculture and animal husbandry minister Brijmohan Agrawal on Saturday suspended nine officers for “carelessness” and showcaused the secretary of Gau Sewa Aayog. Among those suspended are the deputy directors of Durg and Bemetara districts and seven veterinarians.

According to a report submitted by the department, the cows died because these officials took no action although irregularities were found at shelters run by Verma, said the minister.

Verma was beaten up by Youth Congress activists and his face blackened as he was being taken to court on Saturday. He was arrested on Friday for cruelty and nonpreservation of cattle and his failure to properly utilise the money given by the Aayog that tuned upto Rs 93 lakh. Verma is a vice chairman of Jamul Nagar Palika Officials from Gau Sewa Aayog and veterinarians visited the shelter in

Dhamda

on Saturday and were shocked to learn that Verma runs two more shelters in Bemetara district. Teams were sent to check and carcasses were dug up there, too, say sources.

While villagers claim 200 deaths, animal husbandry director S K Pandey confirmed 74 — 50 at Dhamda’s

Rajpur

and 11 in Godmarra village and 13 in Rano village of Bemetara district. An official said Verma buried carcasses by the dozen in a number of ditches and the probe team found tractor trolleys full of cow carcasses near the cow shelters.

Gau Sewa Aayog president Vishvishwar Patel said that irregularities were found in two more shelters owned by Verma and an FIR was lodged against him at Bemetara police station as well. Patel has ordered shifting of more than 500 cows to neighbouring shelters.