In Rajasthan, Crackdown On 'Cattle Smugglers'

The sudden increase in cattle trafficking related encounters by the police in Rajasthan is a matter of concern. Since the beginning of December, the police has had two encounters with alleged cow traffickers. On December 7, one man, Talim, was killed in a shootout with the police, and on December 11, in a shootout close to Delhi, in Bhiwadi, a man, Ummar, was caught while trying to escape from the truck transporting cattle. Among the districts in Rajasthan, Alwar records among the highest number of cases under the Rajasthan Bovine Act - 86 since the beginning of this year. The police have now been directed to set up gau raksha chowkis in the district to control cattle trafficking. Policemen here have been given SLR rifles and quick response teams which are part of this police crackdown on cattle trafficking, perhaps a reason for the number of encounters between the Alwar police and those carrying cows.