The discovery of bones abandoned in gunny bags near a cow shed in Ponda has ignited concerns over the possible illegal slaughter of animals in the area. The Ponda police have initiated an investigation, seeking expert analysis to determine the origin of the remains.
Veterinary Examination Underway
Acting on a formal request from the Ponda police, Natasha Coutinho, the assistant director at the Ponda veterinary hospital, conducted a detailed examination of the bones. The remains were found discarded near the cow shed located at Chafemol-Nirankal in Ponda. Coutinho confirmed that her findings would be compiled into an official report, which is scheduled to be submitted to the police on Friday.
Incident Triggers Police Probe
The situation came to light following a related incident involving Shabbir Bashir Hangal, a 42-year-old native of Belagavi. Hangal, who had been entrusted by the shed owner Vikas Prabhu to manage the operations, was intercepted by the District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (South Goa) at the South Goa collector’s office. This interception, coupled with the subsequent discovery of the bones littered around the shed's vicinity, raised strong suspicions of unlawful animal slaughter activities.
Prompted by the findings, the local police authorities immediately reached out to the veterinarians at the Ponda veterinary hospital for a professional assessment of the bones to ascertain the cause of death and the species of animal.
Shed Owner Refutes Allegations
In response to the serious allegations, the cow shed owner, Vikas Prabhu, has firmly denied any illegal slaughtering on the premises. Prabhu offered an alternative explanation for the presence of the bones, stating they belonged to cows that had died naturally.
"Due to busy schedules, the shed helpers could not bury the dead calves and the carcasses must have remained in the place and decomposed inside the bags," Prabhu told reporters. His statement aims to counter the narrative of criminal activity, attributing the grisly find to neglect rather than deliberate slaughter.
The community and authorities now await the conclusive veterinary report, which will play a pivotal role in determining the next steps in this investigation. The outcome will clarify whether this is a case of improper disposal of livestock or something more sinister.
