RAIPUR: The mass cow deaths at a Durg `gaushala' took a gory turn on Saturday when allegations surfaced that the owner, BJP leader Harish Verma , used to skin cow carcasses to feed fish in his pond and that he may be involved in cattle trafficking as well.

No official would come on record on these allegations, but a senior official of Chhattisgarh Gau Sewa Aayog confirmed that they were probing these charges against Verma.

The autopsy report says that the cows died due to starvation and thirst. While chief minister Raman Singh ordered a fresh probe into the case and ordered inspection of all cow shelters, state agriculture and animal husbandry minister Brijmohan Agrawal on Saturday suspended nine officers for “carelessness“ and showcaused the secretary of Gau Sewa Aayog. Among those suspended are the deputy directors of Durg and Bemetara districts and seven veterinarians.

According to a report submitted by the department, the cows died because these officials took no action although irregularities were found at shelters run by Verma, said the minister.

Verma was beaten up by Youth Congress activists and his face blackened as he was being taken to court on Saturday .

Funds-hit shelter owner sits on fast

Left with “no fodder“ and medicines for 201 cows rescued from the clutches of “cattle smugglers“, ascetics running a shelter here have written to Yogi Aditya Nath seeking funds.

