Protest over bovine smuggling
People of Kalakot tehsil today blocked the Rajouri-Kalakot-Jammu road for more than five hours, alleging that the police had failed to fully stop bovine smuggling to the Kashmir valley.
In the wee hours today, six alleged bovine smugglers were taking two cows and three calves to the Kashmir Valley via the Rajouri-Thanamandi-Mughal Road route. The animals were anaesthetised and packed in two Tavera MUVs.
As the smugglers reached Potha, they noticed a police party at a police checkpost. They turned back, fled towards Kalakot and disappeared towards the Dayala-Kothian link road.
The police party raised an alarm, informed the SHO of the Kalakot police station and alerted the people of the area. The alleged smugglers unloaded two sedated cows near Jigni village and were in the process of removing the calves when people and the police party chasing them reached the spot.
They apprehended two alleged smugglers while another managed to escape. People rescued the animals. They set both the Tavera MUVs on fire.
Later, residents held a demonstration at Dayala and blocked the Jammu-Kalakot-Rajouri road from 9:30 am. They alleged that the government had failed to curb the menace of bovine smuggling. Additional Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kumar and SDM Balkrishan Panotra assured the protesters that the culprit would be arrested and booked. Later, a search was conducted in the forest and four others apprehended by the police on the charge of smuggling. The police have registered a case.
