They treat cattle as holy, but leave them on roads, says victim’s uncle

Amit Bathla

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, January 14

A 19-year-old boy, Avik, couldn’t see many mornings of the New Year. The teenager, a student of DAV College in Chandigarh, became the latest victim of stray cattle on January 9, a few days prior to the inauguration of the Sukhdarshanpur cowshed, which is being termed revolutionary to make the city free from stray cows.

The boy was driving an Activa, with his two friends riding pillion, to his house in Sector 12 from Ramgarh when a stray cattle came in their way. To prevent a collision with the animal, Avik lost control of the scooter, which skidded and hit the divider. The mishap proved fatal for him.

The son of retired soldier Hema Ram and Saroj Devi was gone in a flash, leaving them in despair. The birthday party from where Avik was returning turned out to be his last joyful moment.

“Experiencing an excruciating pain, his parents couldn’t even talk. The ‘ultimate loss’ has shattered their faith in life,” said Avik’s uncle Harlal Singh.

“While they (government) treat cows as gaumata, they leave them on the road putting commuters’ lives at risk. If they consider them as holy, at least they should treat them well. The animal can be served better in the confinement,” he said.

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