This may not quite fall under the VIP security detail, but the Rajasthan Police extended security to truckloads of cows until they had safely crossed the border to Gujarat.
The unusual move came two days after cow vigilantes in Barmer attacked a truckload of bovines being transported to Tamil Nadu on suspicion that the animals were being taken to slaughterhouses.
The Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry Department had bought 50 cows from Jaisalmer and had requested the police in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka, through which the consignment would pass, to offer protection to the animals.
“We just followed the orders,” Barmer Superintendent of Police Gagandeep Singla said.
A police jeep with an inspector and three armed constables escorted the five trucks with the animals up to the Gujarat border, about 150 km from Barmer.
On the night of June 11, when the trucks were passing through Barmer, cow vigilantes attacked the vehicles, thrashed the driver and attempted to torch the trucks. The mob then blocked National Highway 15.
Police arrested eight people and took action against seven officers for failing to reach the spot on time.
Published 14 June 2017, 19:40 IST