Search This Blog

Monday, February 3, 2014

roaming buffaloes of Triplicane and the missing ones of Uttar Pradesh

According to a report in the Times of India & many other newspaper reports, within minutes of the theft being reported, the entire hierarchy of Rampur police was at the crime scene. District chief superintendent of police Sadhna Goswami led the probe into the theft from the farmhouse in Pasiyapura village under Thanaganj police station of Rampur. A squad of sniffer dogs was also deployed to trace the stolen property…………….. incensed by the fact that such crime could occur,  three police officials are facing transfer due to the incident……….. can you imagine what this is all about ?!?!?!

At Thiruvallikkeni it is a common scene – cattle freely roaming in the narrow streets – cows are more aggressive – while buffaloes are docile. As they roam freely, residents find it difficult ….roads are nasty, animals many a times threaten the old people….there are cases of cattle causing grievous injuries to walkers, cyclists and two wheeler riders…

The water buffalo or domestic Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is a large buffalo. It is stated that water buffaloes were domesticated in India about 5000 years ago, and in China about 4000 years ago. Two types are recognized, based on morphological and behavioural criteria – the river buffalo of the Indian subcontinent and further west to the Balkans and Italy, and the swamp buffalo, found from Assam in the west through Southeast Asia to the Yangtze valley of China in the east.  Murrah is a well known breed in India.  Water buffaloes are especially suitable for tilling rice fields, and their milk is richer in fat and protein than that of the dairy cow.  An online selling site shows Murra buffaloes costing from 26000 to 40000 depending on the yield from 6 litres to 14 litres per day.


Miles away, the  magnificent American buffalo was recognized as the official animal symbol of Kansas in 1955. A male bison can weigh over 1800 pounds and is 6 foot tall at the shoulder. 

Buffalo once roamed the American prairie by the tens of millions and provided a way of life. The Buffalo is also featured on the U.S. Mint's bicentennial quarter for Kansas, the official state seal, and the state flag of Kansas.




Now buffalo is in news……….because they were stolen and Police are on hot chase……….. no ordinary matter this as they belonged to Azam Khan, Samajwadi Party leader and a Minister in Uttarpradesh.   The Police who were blamed, swung into action showcased their efficiency in Rampur district by solving  the mysterious case of Cabinet minister Azam Khan's seven stolen buffaloes within 24 hours finding the stolen buffaloes.  The minister's buffaloes had been stolen from the dairy of his farmhouse in Pasiyapura village on Saturday morning.  The theft of 7 animals caused the entire police force on the run using sniffer dogs too.  A police officer  is quoted as saying  that "due to the increased police involvement and extensive media coverage, the thieves got scared and abandoned the cattle". To ensure that the minister was not handed over some random cattle off the street, the cops even carried out an 'identification parade' in front of the farmhouse guard. Thankfully they were confirmed as "the same buffaloes that were stolen".

Meanwhile, a sub-inspector and two constables in Gunj police station have been issued a notice for negligence in duty that led to Khan's buffaloes being stolen. Some reports state that District chief superintendent of police led the probe into the theft. Reports further state that State tourism Minister Om Prakash Singh defended the suspension, saying that the government was in power to decide who could be transferred and promoted. Khan has often been in the news for wrong reasons with the latest being his study trip abroad along with other UP ministers. According to the minister, their biggest learning on this trip, funded from the taxpayer's money, was waste management systems. The buffalo incident is just another reminder of the ridiculous kind of power misuse that exists in Uttar Pradesh when it comes to ruling politicians. It also highlights a blatant disregard for public opinion and unwillingness to change. Read more @ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
illustrative picture ~ not the cloned one...

Tidbit 1:  the World’s first cloned buffalo calf was Samrupa, India’s answer to Dolly the sheep. But unlike Dolly, the first mammal cloned and  who lived for seven years, Samrupa succumbed to a lung infection five days after it was born.

Tidbit 2 : Nandanar or Bhakta Nandanar was a Tamil film directed by Manik Lal Tandon. It marked the film debut of the carnatic singer and stage artist K. B. Sundarambal. This was also the first film for Ellis R. Dungan. The film was released in 1935 amid great expectations from the public. It failed at the box office and received mixed reviews from the critics. Wiki states that  Kalki Krishnamurthy made fun of it in Ananda Vikatan by claiming buffaloes and palm trees had acted well in the movie.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

3rd Feb 2o14

No comments:

Post a Comment