Bajrang Dal to launch agitation against cow slaughter in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Oct 8 (UNI) The Bajrang Dal today announced to launch an agitation to protect and prevent cow slaughter throughout Orissa, if the state government did not concede their four-point charter of demands in two months.

Bajrang Dal National co-convener Subash Chauhan told newsmen here that the agitation will begin from Hinjli, the Assembly constituency of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The four-point charter of demands included among other things, amendment to the existing Cow Slaughter Act and Cow Transport Act to make them more stringent, setting up of a commission for the protection of cows and a task force for strict implementation of the laws.

He said under the new provision the offence should be made cognizable and carry ten-year imprisonment for people convicted under the Act, besides forfeiting of the vehicles used for transporting cows or beef.

Mr Chauhan said the Bajrang Dal took the decision to go for agitation as the government failed to strictly implement the Cow Slaughter Act and Cow Transportation Act despite several assurances made by the Chief Minister himself.

He said Hinjli was chosen for the launching the agitation as around 14 trucks of cows were being illegally transported from here to outside every week.

The Bajrang Dal leader said cows were being illegally slaughtered all over the state violating the laws and the government was not taking any step to check it.

He also alleged that there was a nexus among the businessmen in this trade and police and said 30 tons of beef were seized from two trucks during the last 24 hours from Cuttack districts.

While one truck was seized by the Bajrang Dal activists at Jagatpur last night and handed over to police, another truck was seized by the activist this afternoon at Islampur under Jagatpur Police station.

Both the trucks were on their way to Visakhapatnam from Islampur in Cuttack district. The driver and the helper were also arrested, Mr Chauhan said.

UNI