Over 40 cows die of hunger, thirst, cold at Botad gaushala, trustee arrested

More than 40 cattle were found dead in a gaushala at Botad’s Salaiya village.

As per reports, a shocking incident came to light when around 40 to 45 cows and calves were found dead at Radhikashri Panjrapole Gaushala in Salaiya on August 29.

Upon receiving this information, officials from Botad Prani Atyachar Nivaran Society Trust, animal lovers, officers from the Animal Husbandry Department, mamlatdar, and the police rushed to the site.

A team of veterinary doctors was dispatched to conduct post-mortem examinations of the deceased animals. The preliminary findings from the post-mortem report indicated that the animals had died of ‘hunger, thirst, and cold’.

Following this, Shailendrasinh Natvarsinh Zala, vice president of Botad’s Prani Atyachar Nivaran Society Trust, filed a complaint on September 1, with the Botad City Police against Mithilanand Bapu, a trustee of the Radhikashri Panjrapole Gaushala.

In the complaint, it was mentioned that despite receiving government grants, the gaushala failed to provide food and water to the animals, cruelly confining them in enclosed areas, leading to their deaths from hunger, thirst, and cold.

Based on this, the police registered a case against the trustee Mithilanand Bapu under IPC Section 325 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Section 11(1)(h) and 11(1)(i). 

Investigating officer Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) V C Bharwad confirmed that the police had arrested Mithilanand Bapu.

125 sick animals treated

After the incident, a team of veterinary doctors promptly arrived at the scene and provided urgent treatment to approximately 125 sick animals, who were then relocated. It is noteworthy that around 500 to 600 cows were kept at the gaushala.

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