Farm officials safe after attack by cow vigilantes: Animal husbandry minister

Krishnagiri: Animal husbandry minister P. Balakrishna Reddy said his department officials attacked in Rajasthan by the cow vigilantes are safe.

A team of officials from Chettinadu government livestock farm in Sivagangai district went to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan to procure Tharparkar breed cows. The team was headed by district joint director C. Masilamani.

After completing the purchase, they transported the animals to Tamil Nadu. There were five trucks with animals and necessary documents including NOC given by the departments of the state for the transportation of the cows.

Trouble started when an angry mob stopped the truck at Barmer on National Highway 15, after the vehicles crossed the Sadar police station, just one kilometer from the place where officials were attacked by around 50 men on a doubt that animals were meant for the slaughter houses.

N. Aravind Raj, a veterinary doctor who was in the truck, was beaten up by the mob. Others were 50-year-old Bala Murugan, R. Karuppiah, P. Arumugam, M. Aandi and K. Arumugam. All work as assistants in the Chettinadu government farm.

Sadar police went to the spot and rescued the victims. A few miscreants were arrested for the attack on the government staff. Officials now stay in a private hotel and the cows are kept in ghosala. They are awaiting special permission to be given by the animal husbandry department of the centre for the police to give protection for the safe transportation of the cows to till TN border.