A right-wing outfit in West Bengal will conduct a census of cow population in the state in an attempt to raise awareness about their protection.
From 1 August, hundreds of volunteers for the Gau Raksha Committee will conduct the exercise throughout the state.
The survey will be done in two parts. The head count of the cows taken prior Bakr-Eid will be compared with what’s been taken after the festival in a bid to ascertain the number of livestock that could go missing.
“Every year during Bakr-Eid, thousands of cows are slaughtered and are smuggled to Bangladesh. This has to stop. It is true that cow slaughter is not banned in the state but even if a cow is to be slaughtered, there are certain norms to follow,” Subrata Gupta, president of the committee, was quoted in reports.
According to Gupta, a cow can be sold and slaughtered only after it has completed an age of 14 years. Additionally, it must not be diseased and should not be pregnant.
“After Bakr-Eid, we will visit the households which we visited earlier and take a headcount of the cows. If we find the cows missing, then we will inquire about the official papers and medical papers that are needed for selling a cow. If the papers are not satisfactory, we will file FIRs about the missing cows,” he added.
