Cows granted status of Indian citizen!

In an innovative and interesting new move, the Government of West Bengal has proposed to issue identity cards to cows confirming their status as Indian citizens. The reason for this declaration is that cows are being stolen and smuggled across the border to Bangladesh. This special privilege is being granted to cattle living in the villages bordering Bangladesh.

This is because of a very high incidence of routine cross border smuggling of cattle. Many have been the times that the Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) have of intense clashes at rifle point over the smuggling of cattle. In early April of this year, disputes between the BSF and BDR left as many as 19 people dead. Besides the cattle being smuggled, many have been the smugglers who have been caught red handed with the BSF often being forced to resort to kill the animals.

Rajesh Kumar, police chief of Berhampore district, has proclaimed that every domestic cow in border districts of West Bengal will be given a number. The cow's laminated identity cards would be hung around their ears. Any cow without the card could be seized by the BSF. Besides, the trafficking of domestic cattle, the 4,984-km long border between the two countries remains a vulnerable zone prone to trafficking of wild life and narcotics. India already has 15 million Bangladeshis living illegally. Besides West Bengal, the cattle citizenship plan is expected to be enforced in all the neighbouring north east states which have borders with Bangladesh like Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya.