BATHINDA: In a state where even the government's National Livestock Championship had to bear the brunt of cow vigilante groups ' tyranny, two Muslim youths proved to be real 'gau rakshaks'. Prompt action by Shamsuddin Chaudhary and his friend Mubeen saved an injured stray cow bleeding profusely in the middle of the road on chilly December night.The incident took place at princely town of Malerkotla, the only area of Punjab with a sizeable Muslim population, which has elected only Muslim candidates in every assembly election since 1962.Malerkotla-based businessman Chaudhary was re turning to his house in Model town after dropping his friend Mubeen at Ajit Nagar area of the town in his car on Saturday midnight. While driving, he spotted a cow bleeing profusely on the road and decided to help the cattle.Chaudhary told The Times of India, “After watching the cow, which was apparently hit by some fast moving ve hicle, I called up Mubeen.We together started calling up the police to rescue the animal.“However, we could not get any immediate response. I then called Malerkotla SDM Showkat Ahmed Parray .“The SDM luckily picked the phone and asked us to wait for five minutes. He called the local municipal council executive officer, who on his part asked the employees to reach Ludhiana bypass, where the animal was lying on the road.““We then somehow took the animal to the local cow shelter and ensured that no other vehicle hit it till help arrived,“ he added. An IAS officer of 2014 batch, Parray, told TOI, “I got a call from the youths at 12.40am. I asked the MC officials to save the animal and get it treated properly. I also called the PCR at Sangrur which reached there in half an hour and took the cow to gaushala where the veterinary hospital staff saved her.“Mubeen said the whole rescue operation took two hours. “We returned home after we ensured the cow was safe,“ he added.Fear of vigilante cow protection groups had cast a shadow over the Eighth National Livestock Championship held at Muktsar in Punjab from January 8 to 12. Several cattle owners had stayed away from the event as they feared that the groups might target them while transporting the animals from one district to another.