Bhopal: Carcasses of nearly 60 cows found in a shelter owned by a BJP leader in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal, has stirred political drama. A video showing the carcasses was shot by locals and widely shared on Sunday, 30 January, prompting administrative intervention.

According to the information perceived so far, Nirmala Devi is an elderly BJP politician who owns and runs the Gau Seva Bharti Gaushala in the Berasia area of Bhopal district.

Taking cognizance of the incident, individuals from the Muslim community in the neighbourhood on Wednesday, have proposed to take up the responsibility for arranging fodder for the cows. Individuals from the Lalriya village of Berasia have promised to provide nearly 800 quintals of straw by today evening. Moreover, they informed to provide fodder for a year. In the meanwhile, the administration has decided to hold a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

Nirmala Devi was booked under Section 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease danger­ous to life) and Section 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease danger­ous to life) of the Indian Penal Code. Questions arise on how the mass mortality occurred despite being handed over Rs 35 lakh in the last five years.

According to the officials, 5,578 Cow deaths have occurred between 2015 and 2021 in MP.