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Anger over killing of sacred cow | Anger over killing of sacred cow |
(about 18 hours later) | |
Members of Britain's largest Hindu temple have accused the RSPCA of killing a sacred cow while worshippers prayed. | |
Officials at Bhaktivedanta Manor in Watford, Hertfordshire, said the RSPCA put down the cow despite assuring them no immediate action would be taken. | Officials at Bhaktivedanta Manor in Watford, Hertfordshire, said the RSPCA put down the cow despite assuring them no immediate action would be taken. |
Cows are sacred to Hindus so the killing of a cow at a temple is seen as religious sacrilege of the worst kind. | Cows are sacred to Hindus so the killing of a cow at a temple is seen as religious sacrilege of the worst kind. |
The RSPCA said it had made it clear it was being done on medical advice. | The RSPCA said it had made it clear it was being done on medical advice. |
The Hindu community claimed they were assured on Wednesday by the RSPCA, police and Defra that no immediate action would be taken, because of the religious sensitivities. | The Hindu community claimed they were assured on Wednesday by the RSPCA, police and Defra that no immediate action would be taken, because of the religious sensitivities. |
'Duplicitous behaviour' | 'Duplicitous behaviour' |
Police "bundled away" monks as a vet administered the 13-year-old Belgian Blue and Jersey cross, named Gangotri, with a lethal injection in a barn at 0900 GMT, temple officials claim. | Police "bundled away" monks as a vet administered the 13-year-old Belgian Blue and Jersey cross, named Gangotri, with a lethal injection in a barn at 0900 GMT, temple officials claim. |
"This is shocking and duplicitous behaviour" said Gauri Das, the head of the Hindu community. | "This is shocking and duplicitous behaviour" said Gauri Das, the head of the Hindu community. |
"We have been deceived by those who had given us their word." | "We have been deceived by those who had given us their word." |
A temple spokesman said: "Police bundled away monks who were in attendance of the sick cow, and the head farmer was kept talking, while inside the barn a lethal injection was given to the cow." | A temple spokesman said: "Police bundled away monks who were in attendance of the sick cow, and the head farmer was kept talking, while inside the barn a lethal injection was given to the cow." |
The Hindu community have claimed the cow was sick but had no disease. They said she was being cared for by temple residents and was being administered pain relief. | The Hindu community have claimed the cow was sick but had no disease. They said she was being cared for by temple residents and was being administered pain relief. |
Gangotri was kept in a barn within the temple grounds | Gangotri was kept in a barn within the temple grounds |
The temple runs The Cow Protection Project and allows old cows and bulls to die naturally. | The temple runs The Cow Protection Project and allows old cows and bulls to die naturally. |
Head farm manager Stuart Coyle said: "Gangotri was unable to walk, but due to her condition there was some tolerable discomfort". | Head farm manager Stuart Coyle said: "Gangotri was unable to walk, but due to her condition there was some tolerable discomfort". |
A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said the cow had been put down on the advice of three vets as she was suffering from "painful and infected" sores and limb wastage. | A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said the cow had been put down on the advice of three vets as she was suffering from "painful and infected" sores and limb wastage. |
"We do understand and respect religious beliefs but at the heart of our organisation is the belief that animals should not suffer," she said. | "We do understand and respect religious beliefs but at the heart of our organisation is the belief that animals should not suffer," she said. |
"We had a warrant executed within the law and we informed officials at the temple what was going to happen. They thought they would be given time to take legal advice - but we did not say that," she added. | "We had a warrant executed within the law and we informed officials at the temple what was going to happen. They thought they would be given time to take legal advice - but we did not say that," she added. |
A Hertfordshire Police spokeswoman said: "Officers did not push any of the monks - we are concerned at this allegation." | A Hertfordshire Police spokeswoman said: "Officers did not push any of the monks - we are concerned at this allegation." |
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