The already festering menace of stray cattle in Gujarat took a turn for the worse, when on Monday, a retired army man in Rajkot’s Bhomeshwar, was seriously injured after being rammed into by a bovine on the loose.
Seeking time from the Gujarat High Court to postpone the hearing pertaining to stray cattle menace, the state on Tuesday stressed that it has “tried to plug all loopholes.” Chief Justice Aravind Kumar disagreed with this submission and implored the state to “do something” to check the menace.
The matter was being heard by a division bench of Chief Justice Kumar and Justice A J Shastri. Submitting that the state is considering suggestions put forth by advocate and party-in-person petitioner Amit Panchal, who had moved the contempt petition pointing out non-implementation of an earlier order by the Gujarat High Court pertaining to controlling the cattle menace, Advocate General Kamal Trivedi, representing the state, stressed: “We have tried to plug all the loopholes.”
However, CJ Kumar, remarked: “Yesterday in Rajkot, one defence personnel was attacked and he is in serious condition, that’s what I saw on TV. This cattle menace has gone out of proportion, do something.” The matter has now been listed for further hearing on January 9.
The victim’s family has demanded the municipal body and the police to register a case against those who let loose animal in public places. A case has been registered against the unidentified animal owner/person.
Rajkot mayor Pradeep Dave briefed the media on the incident and added: “An SRP squad has been deployed to net the animal and the offender, once identified, will face consequences.”
Stray cattle being let loose to graze on public land are a nuisance in the state. In the last eight-and-a-half months, 13,032 cattle have been caught. In some cases, the owner could be traced and total of Rs 63.45 lakhs have been in penalties.
Meanwhile, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Animal Control Dept has started its work in the city.
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