There's good news for the bovine population in the country, yet again. The latest buzz in the robust and busy cow development sector of the country is that the BJP government in Uttarakhand will create a police force -- from the existent one -- to actively track illegal slaughterhouses and rein in cow smuggling. The squad will be called 'cow family protection squad', reports The Telegraph. The report says that there will be two such squads responsible for two parts of the state.

"Each division will include a police inspector, two sub-inspectors, a head constable each from the civil police and the local intelligence unit, and six constables, state police chief Anil Raturi said. Each will have an SUV and wireless sets and will be supervised by a deputy inspector-general," the Telegraph report states.

A survey done is 2007 found that the police to civilian ratio in Uttarakhand stood at 142 police personnel per 1,00,000 population. The report also states that while the number of police per lakh civilian is nearly half the number recommended by the United Nations, it is much better than the dismal scenario in other states. "Though it is not in line with the United Nations standards of 230 police per 100,000 population, it is comparatively better than many other states," the report says.

The Indian Express states that the cow protection squads have to submit monthly reports and updates on the action they have taken to the police headquarters in Dehradun.

This news comes close on the heels of reports that a woman was thrashed by a 100-strong mob in Bengaluru because she had dared to report illegal slaughterhouses in the vicinity. India Today reported: "Nandini, along with a couple of friends, was driving by Avalahalli area near Tippu Circle in Bengaluru's JP Nagar when she spotted some suspicious activity. Nandini says that her friend saw cows being taken to a secluded lane in the area and being slaughtered."

Nandini told India Today that the police did nothing and she found herself alone in the lane where people suddenly started hurling bricks at her and chanting 'pro-Pakistan' slogans.Another report, however, adds that the police claims they 'rescued' three cows. They added that the woman's car hat hit a small shop, which led to an altercation and eventually stone pelting.

Around the same, it was reported that a Muslim dairy farmer's cattle was 'snatched' from him in Rajasthan's Alwar based on allegations that he is a cow smuggler.Hindustan Times reported, 51 cows owned by one Subba Khan was 'snatched' from him and sent off to a cattle shelter in Alwar on suspicion that he may be a cattle smuggler. The family makes a living by selling cow and goat milk. Police said, they had apprehended the cattle because it was blocking the highway and could lead to a 'law and order' situation and because there's a lot of cattle smuggling that happens in the area. The cow shelter where the cows are lodged demanded that Khan pay them compensation for keeping the cows -- which were snatched from him -- if following police investigation, the cattle is returned to Khan.