Community shock at killing (From Asian Image)

Community shock at killing

12:54pm Thursday 13th December 2007

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The Hindu community says it is shocked after a cow was killed at the largest Hindu temple in Britain while worshippers were at prayer.

The cow, named Gangotri, a 13 year-old Belgian Blue and Jersey cross, was killed at 9.00 am at the Bhaktivedanta Manor.

It is claimed police ushered away monks who were in attendance of the sick cow, and the head farmer was kept talking while inside the barn a lethal injection was given to the cow.

Cows are sacred to Hindus, and the killing of a cow is considered to be an outrageous act.

The killing was conducted despite personal assurances given the previous day from RSPCA officers and police that due to religious sensitivities no immediate action would be taken.

Concerns that they now had an extended legal situation on their hands, rather than an imminent action, caused the priests at the temple to contact sympathetic MPs who then contacted Hilary Benn MP, the head of DEFRA. Again, assurances were given from DEFRA that no immediate action would be taken.

The religious concern of the Hindu community was evidenced recently by the protests surrounding the case where a temple bull in Wales, Shambo, had a notifiable disease.

It was for this reason that, the previous day, the RSPCA together with local Hertfordshire police, had visited the temple and engaged in lengthy discussions with Gauri Das, who said: "They expressed their sensitivities, and the police gave us their assurances that we would be given time to pursue a legal recourse."

The cow was sick but had no disease. She was being cared for by temple residents and visiting worshippers, and was being administered pain relief.

The temple runs 'The Cow Protection Project' and allows old cows and bulls to die naturally.

Head Farm Manager and former Royal Marine Stuart Coyle explained: "Gangotri was unable to walk, but due to her condition there was some tolerable discomfort".

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