Truck carrying cows stopped by ‘cow-vigilantes’ in Jammu

Jammu/May 06: Police came to rescue of a Gujjar-Bakarwal family when their truck carrying cows was cornered by a group of self-styled cow vigilantes at Narwal Jammu on Friday night.
The incident invited condemnation from Muslim organizations of Jammu who demanded strict action against the goons.
Eyewitnesses said  a group of self-styled cow vigilantes stopped a truck carrying cows near Narwal Jammu. Fearing for their lives, the Gujjar family locked the truck and refused to come down. Despite informing them that the truck has valid government permission, the cow vigilantes continuously chanted ‘Bam Bam Bole’ slogans.
Eyewitnesses added that a police flying squad tried to pacify the self-styled cow vigilantes; however, the goons tried to assault them and forced them to retreat. “A respectable lawyer from Bhatandi Jammu tried to intervene; however, cow vigilantes didn’t budge and tried to drag out the cows from the truck. When this drama was going on, a police party from Bagh-e-Bahu police station emerged on the spot and dispersed the cow vigilantes. The police seized the truck as well.
When contacted, a police official from Bagh-e-Bahu police station said the truck was released as the Gujjar family was carrying a valid permission. When asked why an FIR was not lodged against miscreants, he said the matter was resolved amicably.
Meanwhile, Jammu Muslim Front while condemning the incident said that it is the job of police to check cow smuggling and self-styled ‘Gau-rakshaks’ exist only to harass nomads. “It is shameful that the family carrying with valid permission was harassed and intimidated,” president Jammu Muslim Front Qazi Imran said.