Gujarat DGP Ashish Bhatia, in a meeting with police officials, stressed the need to bring the stray cattle menace under control. This was in the backdrop of the High Court coming down heavily on the civic administration regarding the issue of stray cattle which has taken many lives.
During the last two years, 2020 and 2021, there have been 2,092 cases of stray cattle registered against cattle owners in the city of Ahmedabad. For Surat, Ahmedabad and Rajkot the figure is 403,637 and 9 respectively.
Police commissioners, Additional DGP CID crime, district police chiefs, and Range IGs were present in the meeting with DGP Ashish Bhatia. He implored them to take effective steps against stray cattle and their owners.
Taking serious note of the Gujarat High Court’s observations in the matter, the DGP also gave instructions to act against those selling fodder on roads. He went on to instruct the cops to register offences against erring cattle owners and if needed, to go to the extent of booking them under Prevention of Anti-Social Activities (PASA).
DGP Bhaita said “I have also instructed them (police) to form teams to monitor if effective actions are being taken to tackle the cattle menace. Cops have been asked to identify accident hotspots due to stray cattle in coordination with Municipal corporations, nagarpalikas and gram panchayats. They will also carry out foot patrolling in such areas”
Earlier, in the two-day monsoon session of the Gujarat Assembly, the Bhupendra Patel-led BJP government scrapped the controversial Gujarat Cattle Control (Keeping and Moving) in Urban Areas Bill, 2022, which was passed in March at the conclusion of the budget session. The state government had hoped o tackle the stray cattle menace with the scrapping of the bill, but in vain. There are nearly 1,750 registered panjrapols and gaushalas in the state run by charitable or religious organisations.
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