CHANDIGARH: Haryana cow commission on Wednesday decided to issue identity cards to cow protectors following police inputs about fake cow vigilantes extorting money from truckers. "Cow protectors will just inform the cow protection task force of police to stop any cow smuggling or cow slaughter," he said. The task force, consisting of 300 jawans, is headed by a woman IPS officer of DIG rank, Bharti Arora. The Gau Raksha Dal is headed by Acharya Yogendra Arya, who is also a member of the state cow commission.Mangla clarified that the cow protectors don't have any right to stop a truck (on suspicion of cow smuggling) or take the law into their hands. "In April, the state police had busted a gang of "fake cow protectors" who charged a fee of Rs 8,000 per vehicle from traders engaged in the transportation of cows and other animals in Hisar district .Mangla said they have received a list of around 100 cow protectors from Haryana Gau Raksha Dal which will be verified by police before issuing I-Cards.

Source: Times of India August 10, 2016 22:50 UTC