Police in Morbi have registered a case against two women for allegedly obstructing a municipal team tasked with capturing stray cattle. The incident, which involved a physical altercation and the release of seized animals, occurred on Vavdi Road and has highlighted the ongoing challenges of managing stray livestock in urban areas.
Confrontation During Routine Cattle Round-Up
According to an official complaint, the event took place on November 7. A team from the Morbi Municipal Corporation (MMC)'s animal control department was conducting a routine drive to capture stray cattle. The team, led by contracted sanitary sub-inspector Vipul Chhaiya, had successfully secured several stray cows from the Kariya Society area using a tractor.
While some team members were still inside the society premises, a crowd began to gather around the vehicle after two cows were loaded onto it. The situation quickly escalated into an argument between the locals and the civic workers.
Alleged Obstruction and Scuffle
The police complaint names Devu Bharwad and Bhanu Bharwad as the two women who led the opposition. It is alleged that they demanded the immediate release of the captured cattle. The confrontation turned physical when one of the women reportedly climbed onto the tractor, engaged in a scuffle with the MMC staff, and managed to release one cow.
Simultaneously, the other woman attempted to free another animal from the municipal team's custody. Civic workers present at the scene intervened to control the situation and promptly alerted the local police.
Case Registered and Aftermath
Upon learning that the police had been informed, the two accused women fled from the location. The entire incident was recorded on video by the civic staff, and a formal report was later submitted to senior municipal officials.
The Morbi 'A' Division police have taken legal action by registering a case under Section 221 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. This section pertains to intentionally omitting to apprehend or harboring a person who has escaped from custody, or to the voluntary omission to keep a person in confinement. The application of this section in this context relates to the alleged illegal release of the impounded cattle.
This case underscores the tensions that can arise during municipal enforcement actions aimed at addressing the persistent issue of stray cattle on city roads, a matter concerning both public safety and animal welfare.
