Fear of gau-rakshaks stops cow trade at Barnala cattle market

Cattle traders from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Rajasthan have not been buying cows, calves and bulls at the Pashu Mandi (cattle market) at Dhanaula town of Barnala district for the past three years at least, fearing the wrath of gau-rakshaks during transportation. This has been a setback to over-a-century old market, one of the biggest in northern India, held on the 11th and the 27th of every month. Now, cows are being traded only within Punjab.

The impact of the fear of the cow vigilantes is massive in terms of numbers. Organisers and traders claim that only 15-20 cows are being sold at each Pashu Mandi, from the hundreds that were sold before the atmosphere of fear took over.

“There is a fear of ‘gau-rakshaks’. Transportation of cows is dangerous and is an invitation to untoward incidents,” said Rajinder Singh, from Agra, a visitor to Dhanaula for 25 years.

“Cattle traders don’t want to take any risk and we cannot even imagine buying cows due to the fear of gau-rakshaks. Traders prefer buffalos from Punjab which give milk for 7-8 months; UP’s buffaloes give milk only for three-and-a-half months,” said Sartaj, of Lucknow. “Once I was stopped in Haryana while on my way to Uttar Pradesh,” said Jaggi, a truck driver.

GOVT RESPONSIBLE, CLAIMS FARM LEADER

BKU (Ugrahan) leader Gobinder Singh said, “The government and the administration are responsible for lower sale of cows across the state . The sale of cows should be a right like any another property,” he said.

He added, “Desi (local breed) cows may be left out of the slaughter policy, but other categories of cows and bulls must be allowed to be traded for consumption. Cows are living in miserable conditions and dying after polythene consumption.”

District development and panchayat officer Sanjeev Kumar said, “My observation of the cattle market over the past 2-3 years is that the trade of cows has decreased massively, due to the fear of transportation. If traders have sale, purchase slips, there will be no issue.”

My observation of the cattle market over the past 2-3 years is that the trade of cows has decreased massively, due to the fear of transportation. SANJEEV KUMAR, development and panchayat officer, Barnala