Cow abuse incident: Administration orders probe & legal action (video)
A video that went viral on social media shows a group of locals beating a cow and attempting to throw it into the Karnali River.
KATHMANDU: In Bajura District’s Jagannath Rural Municipality-6, inhumane treatment of a cow has recently become a topic of widespread discussion.
A video that went viral on social media shows a group of locals beating a cow and attempting to throw it into the Karnali River.
Following this incident, the administration promptly deployed police forces and instructed them to investigate those involved.
The District Administration Office has ordered the arrest of the locals involved in the incident. Chief District Officer Meghnath Padhya stated that the police have been directed to bring the Ward Chairperson and others involved to the district headquarters for further investigation.
The administration is preparing to take necessary legal action against the culprits.
“Beating a cow and attempting to throw it into the river is inhumane. Such acts cannot be accepted under any circumstances. The local administration will investigate the perpetrators and take action,” Chief District Officer Padhya said.
Ward Chairperson Dhanbahadur Sarki clarified that this act was part of a long-standing tradition in the village. He explained that when someone dies, the practice of “Gaudan” (donating a cow) is observed, and the cow is traditionally taken across the Karnali River.
However, this practice has become controversial in modern times.
The brutal beating of the cow, in particular, has sparked widespread outrage among the general public. Such cruel treatment of animals under the guise of tradition has been observed in various parts of Nepal in the past.
Animal rights activists have called for an immediate halt to such violent practices.
Although the local administration has summoned those involved for questioning, the cow, which had been the victim of the abuse, was found to be safe. According to the Chief District Officer, the cow returned to the village after the incident.
“The cow is safe now. However, inhumane treatment of the national animal is a punishable offense under the law. The administration will make a strict decision regarding this matter,” Padhya added.
Following the incident, widespread protests have erupted on social media. Many people are demanding that the government ensure animal rights and impose strict punishment on those responsible. In Nepal, cows are respected as the national animal, and violence against them is considered a serious criminal offense.
The local administration has stated that it will engage in discussions with the involved locals and make necessary decisions.
Whether legal action will be taken or a lenient approach will be adopted, considering traditional practices, will only be clear after the administration’s final decision.
This incident in Bajura exemplifies the ongoing conflict between traditional customs and modern legal systems in Nepal. The administration has taken the matter seriously and has stated that the process for legal action against the offenders will move forward.
“The question now is—will this tradition change, or will it be regulated within the boundaries of the law?”
