Madhya Pradesh: Panchayat ostracises farmer, family for killing cow ‘accidentally’

The death of a cow in an accident has led to ostracisation of a farmer and his family from their village in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday. According to Hindustan Times, the cow died after being hit by tractor-trolley when Pappu Prajapati, 36, was parking it. “The cow died on the spot. The villagers called a panchayat terming death of the cow as a gau-hatya (murder of cow),” Prajapati told newspaper.

In its verdict, the panchayat members, led by village sarpanch Pancham Singh Chauhan, said the family would be allowed to enter the village only when all the members take a dip in the holy Ganga, organise a mass feast after a ‘Kanya and Brahman Bhoj’ and donate a cow.

Despite Prajapati’s pleas, the panchayat pronounced the order. “Since Prajapati has been proved guilty of a gau-hatya, he and his family have to get rid of sin through penance,” said Prakash Gautam, one of the members of the panchayat.

Meanwhile, the report suggests Prajapati has left the village with his family to take a dip in the Ganga.