A massive protest and a road blockade followed the discovery today of carcasses of 21 buffaloes and calves in a truck that broke down near the Mohali barrier this morning. Sixteen of the 28 buffaloes, and five of the 29 calves being transported from Nagal to Dera Bassi in the truck (HP-55-1579) apparently died due to lack of sufficient oxygen. The truck had broken down and the driver had gone to fetch a mechanic, when passers-by saw the dead cattle and informed the police, who reached the spot. Some of the animals that were still alive were found unconscious. The Society for Prevention against Cruelty to Animals and UT Municipal Corporation authorities were called for help. A number of trucks and fire tenders reached the spot to provide water and fodder to the animals that were alive. Activists of the Hindu Sena, Chandigarh Mahanagar, and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad reached the spot and started raising slogans against the UT Administration. They set mattresses and rubber tyres on fire in the middle of the road. They tried to set the truck on fire. However, UT Police personnel intervened and the truck was towed away. As many as 200 police personnel and four Station House Officers, were deployed at the spot. The protests and road-blockade continued till 3.30 p.m. Chandigarh Police have registered a case against the truck driver, who is absconding. While the police are unsure about where the animals were being transported to, VHP and Hindu Sena activists said they were being taken to Dera Bassi to be slaughtered.
