Anger over killing of sacred cow

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.

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.

'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.

"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."

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 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".

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 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."

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