Cows should be assigned unique identification numbers, a committee appointed by centre said today.

Highlights UID should have details like "age, breed, lactation, horn type": Panel

Committee is led by the joint secretary of the home ministry

Cow vigilante attacks have stirred protests in many states

An Aadhaar-like unique identity system for cows has been proposed by the centre in the Supreme Court. Unique identification numbers will help track cows and prevent their smuggling, a committee appointed by the Home Ministry said today, amid a raging debate provoked by mob attacks by cow vigilantes in many states.The court was hearing a petition by an organisation, the Akhil Bharat Krishi Goseva Sangh, which alleged rampant smuggling of cattle across the border to Bangladesh.The UID number should be mandatory and should have details like "age, breed, sex, lactation, height, body, color, horn type, tail switch, special marks details of the animal", the committee suggested.It also recommended that the state government be responsible for the safety and care of abandoned animals.Each district, the committee suggested, should have a shelter home of 500-capacity for abandoned animals to help reduce smuggling and such units should be funded by the state.The Supreme Court will take up the case tomorrow. The committee is led by the joint secretary of the home ministry.The petitioner wants the court to ask the Railways to check illegal transporting of cattle.A series of cow vigilante attacks have stirred protests and anger in recent weeks in states like Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Jharkhand, especially as it is the victims of thrashing that have been charged or arrested by the police first, for allegedly transporting cows illegally.

In Rajasthan, a diary owner, Pehlu Khan, was beaten to death while he was transporting livestock bought from a fair in Jaipur. He and his companions were attacked even though they had a permit.Reacting to the ID proposal, Left leader D Raja said, "The government should take strong action against cow vigilantes groups and those who resort to violence."