400 stray cattle caught, claims Sangrur admn

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, October 15

Though the Sangrur administration today claimed that it had caught around 400 stray cattle in the past one month, locals are not impressed as they say that stray cattle continue to roam in streets.

A Sunam resident has also filed a PIL with the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) and sought directions to the Punjab government for taking effective steps to deal with the stray cattle menace. “I don’t know on what basis the authorities concerned are claiming that the number of stray cattle has decreased. Animals are still troubling area residents. I have filed a PIL with the HC and pleaded for strict directions to the state government to control the rising stray cattle,” said Jatinder Jain, a social worker from Sunam.

Sangrur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ghanshaym Thori said continuous efforts had been made to control stray cattle. He said administration teams had been working with the help of private persons since September to shift stray animals to cattle sheds at Jhaneri and Barnala road, Sangrur.

“Earlier, residents of surrounding villages used to release stray cattle in Sangrur city. Now, with round-the-clock working of special teams, the number has decreased. We are working to make the city free of stray cattle,” the DC said.

Daljit Sekhon, a local advocate, said, “Residents are still under terror of stray animals and I do not see any decrease in the number of animals in the district.”