Gaushala continuously attacked by goons; workers harassed [ Telangana, India ]

[ Reported as seen ]

The Kamadhenu Gowshala and Foundation, a Gowshala was attacked  by goons. They harassed, threatened, and physically assaulted Gaushala staff which also included of pandits. The attacked was orchestrated by  one Konda Buchi Reddy supported by BRS (new official name for TRS) MLA Gudem Mahipal Reddy.

The Kamadhenu Gowshala and Foundation (website) is located in Telangana’s Mokila. It is a registered organization (Trust Registration: 5/BK-IV/2021 of Telangana State) that serves as home to 750 cows and calves. It was started by Shri Srinivas in September 2018 with his personal funds. Since then several cows and calves have been rescued.

The Covid crisis brought its own set of problems as Shri Srinivas suffered financial and other troubles. Subsequently, the Gowshala was converted to a Registered Trust in June 2021 by the family that took over and ran the Gowshala from June 2020 to June 2021. Two elderly ladies of the family and a family friend became trustees of the trust.

The Gaushala continued its work through public support and donations. Kamadhenu Foundation rescued 231 cows from going to slaughter since being registered as a trust.

“As barren or elderly Cows again became mothers due to proper Rehabilitation, and due to the Rescue missions, Gow Santati has increased to 750. As all the Cows were Rescued & Rehabilitated, even though Cows again became mothers, their milk yield was not much and just enough for the Calves, So, not a drop of milk was sold, and everything was left for the calves”, the foundation said.

The foundation had to seek the intervention of the Telangana High Court to file an FIR against Reddy and his goons because the local authorities refused to help. However, despite the legal action, Reddy’s harassment has not stopped.

On 12 Jan 2023, Reddy brought along someone from the Animal Husbandry Department for an inspection. A malicious one-sided report was written. Kamadhenu Gowshala was not given a chance to provide their input during the inspection, and a bunch of malicious assumptions and false information was written into the report, despite the Foundation showing dated documents, bills, and videos contradicting their claims. The Foundation’s attempt to present their side to the Collector, to whom the report was submitted, failed.

On 17 June 2023, Konda Buchi Reddy trespassed into Gowshala with someone with the intent to poison the cows. Upon calling the police, they fled the scene.

On 03 July 2023, the Gowshala Trust heard some rumours that Buchi Reddy was planning on usurping Gowshala with the Collector’s help. They mailed the collector, requesting not to take any cohesive action without hearing their side or taking note of their evidence, and mentioned that the Foundation had not received any notice.

On 05 July 2023, Konda Buchi Reddy along with MLA Gudem Mahipal Reddy and his goons, trespassed into the Gowshala to conduct a recce.

Reddy arrived with 50 goons on 6 July at 6 in the morning. He trespassed into the gaushala shielded by 25 policemen. CCTV cameras were disconnected and destroyed. The staff numbering 30 were held hostage and threatened, their mobiles were snatched away, and they were chased away from the Gowshala.

“Drinking water troughs and shade for the cows were demolished. Police formed a 500m perimeter around Gowshala and none of us were allowed to even approach Gowshala, and no one answered our pleas for details or explanation. Our Panditji Seshkant Mishra (Sanskrit Scholar) was brutalised by the goons. Gowshala is still under siege & no one from the Gowshala is allowed to even go near, we don’t have first-hand information but have Learnt from locals that Cows were taken away”, a gaushala member said.

Cows are worshipped in Sanatan Dharma, it is only natural for the Gaushalas to be in place to take care of the cows. Whereas, nobody would dare point towards a Mazar or a Church, but a Gaushala is continuously under attack. The prominent members of the administration including the police are shielding the criminals.