Haryana mulls cow protection task force

Haryana is mulling to constitute ‘Gau Rakshak Task Force’ on the pattern of Home Guards to ensure strict enforcement of the stringent cow protection law in the state. “It is being considered to constitute Gau Rakshak Task Force (Cow Protection Task Force) on the pattern of Home Guards so that the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015 could be strictly enforced,” Chairman, Haryana Gau Seva Ayog Bhani Ram Mangla said here on Wednesday.

For ‘protection and upkeep’ of cows, Haryana Assembly had in March 2015 passed the Bill which clamps a complete ban on cow slaughter in the state and provides for a rigorous imprisonment ranging from three years to 10 years for killing the animal.

Mangla said cow smuggling in Yamunanagar, Panipat, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Gurgaon and Rewari districts was posing a challenge. Special teams have been constituted to put a check on cow smuggling and cow slaughter in which 62 gazetted officers and 240 other rank police personnel have been included, he said.