Madhya Pradesh farmer booked for killing cow that strayed into his land

A 40-year-old farmer was booked for allegedly beating to death a cow which strayed into his farmland in a village near here, police said today.

The farmer, Mohan Tiwari, got angry when he spotted a cow in his field near village Dumbar village, some 35km from here. He hit the bovine with a jagged-edged weapon last evening and the cow died during treatment today, Baldeogarh police station inspector Kailash Babu Arya told PTI.

The owner of the animal, Shankar Ahirwar, who also hails from Dumbar, later lodged a police complaint.

"Based on the complaint, we have booked Tiwari under the IPC section 429 (mischief by killing or maiming cattle) and also the Madhya Pradesh Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act," Arya said.

Upon conviction, the IPC section attracts imprisonment up to five years or fine or both. Under the anti-cow slaughter law, the jail term is up to seven years.

Arya said police have launched a search for Tiwari, who has fled the village.