Now, cracker explodes in cow’s mouth in Himachal Pradesh

Dharamsala, June 6

After the Kerala elephant incident, a similar incident has come to light in Himachal Pradesh where a cow’s mouth was injured after it was fed a firecracker wrapped in wheat dough.

The incident occurred in Jhanduta area of Bilaspur district on May 26, but came to light following nationwide outrage over the death of the pregnant elephant that was fed crackers hidden inside a pineapple.

A video of the injured cow, a portion of its mouth was blown off after it consumed the explosive, has been doing the rounds on social media with animal rights activists demanding stringent action in the case. The police have arrested the main accused after registering a case under various sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the IPC. Bilaspur Superintendent of Police Divakar Sharma said a high-intensity firecracker was allegedly kept inside a ball made of wheat dough, which exploded when the cow chewed on it. “The main accused has been arrested. A probe is under way to ascertain if more persons were involved,” he said.

Farmers usually hide firecrackers in wheat dough balls to kill animals, including wild boars, that attack their crops and are declared vermin. Wildlife officials said poachers use similar technique to kill wild animals, but at times domestic and stray animals too fall victim to such tactics. — TNS

Common practice

• Wildlife officials say it is a common practice by farmers to keep firecrackers in wheat dough to kill wild animals, mainly wild boars, that attack crop and are declared vermin
• Poachers use similar technique to kill wild animals, but at times domestic and stray animals too fall victim to such tactics