Jaipur Calf Head Discovery Ignites Political Firestorm
Tensions flared in the Ashokpura area of Jaipur on Monday following reports that the severed head of a calf was discovered inside a local cattle shed. The incident quickly escalated into a political confrontation between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress party.
Police Investigation Reveals Different Narrative
According to Shyam Nagar Station House Officer Dalbeer Singh, the situation began when children playing nearby reported what they believed to be a severed calf head to their parents, who then alerted authorities. However, police investigation revealed a different story.
"Satyanarayan Sharma, commonly known as Bunty, maintains a small herd of cows," explained SHO Dalbeer Singh. "One of his calves died naturally two days ago, and the Jaipur Municipal Corporation properly disposed of the carcass at Hingoniya gaushala."
The officer further clarified that the mother cow became distressed after losing her calf. "Some neighbors suggested that Bunty retrieve the calf's head from the gaushala to calm the grieving mother," said Singh. "He brought the head back on Sunday evening and kept it within his cattle shed, not at any public crossing as some have claimed."
Political Dimensions Emerge
The situation took a political turn when cow protection activists (gaurakshaks) and BJP workers arrived at the scene. Local resident Ankit Kala observed that "the accused was briefly detained but later released and returned in a vehicle belonging to a gaurakshak group."
Congress leader Pratap Singh Khachariyawas launched a direct attack on the BJP government, threatening protests outside the Chief Minister's residence if action wasn't taken within 24 hours. "Just 300 meters from the CM's residence, a cow was allegedly brutally killed, and the accused has BJP connections," he claimed. "Yet no strict action has been initiated."
Municipal Corporation Denies Involvement
The Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) has denied any knowledge of the incident. JMC–II animal management officer Yogesh Sharma stated, "No municipal team visited that particular area. Had we taken any official action, no part of a deceased animal could have been retrieved from Hingoniya gaushala. We are conducting our own investigation into this matter."
Local residents have raised additional concerns, alleging that Satyanarayan Sharma received preferential treatment due to political influence. They claim his brother, Harish Kumar Sharma, previously served as a councillor from Ward 68 in Mansarovar, suggesting this connection facilitated his release.
The incident highlights the sensitive nature of cattle-related issues in Rajasthan and demonstrates how quickly such matters can become politicized. As investigations continue by both police and municipal authorities, the community remains divided over the facts of the case and the appropriate response from local officials.
