Villagers allege thrashing by police over stray animals

Our Correspondent

Fazilka, January 15

The police claimed to have foiled an attempt by some villagers to desert stray cattle in the town. However, the villagers have alleged that when they were coming from Ladhuka village to the town to hand over stray cattle to a gaushala, they were thrashed by the police.

The villagers said they were going to the town along with 65-70 stray animals when a police party deployed at a barrier allegedly thrashed two persons and took one of them into custody. They said they told the police that they were taking the animals to hand over to a gaushala. Later, the farmers staged a protest outside the office of the SDM.

However, residents of the town have often complained that villagers used to abandon cattle there. Iqbal Khan, SHO, Sadar Police, denied the allegation of thrashing and taking any villager into custody. He said a group of people from the town were ready to stop the villagers from deserting cattle there, so the villagers were asked not to bring animals to the town to prevent any clash.