Posted on 02/01/2009 12:22:33 AM PST by nickcarraway
PANAJI: Moo! A strange sound was heard near a court. And the sight of a cow just outside the court brought for an identification parade was stranger still.
A large crowd gathered to witness a unique judicial proceeding in Valpoi, located about 70 km from state capital Panaji, where a cow made its appearance just outside a local magistrate's court.
The rusty brown bovine along with its owner was ordered to be present to complete the identification parade in a criminal case, filed at the Valpoi police station last year, where two men were accused of attempting to slaughter a cow.
In 2008, the police had arrested two men for stealing the cow, which they were allegedly planning to slaughter. The cow was rescued and handed over to the owner, Mangal Desai, by the police.
"As part of Saturday's formalities, the cow was brought, so that the two witnesses could formally identify it as the same cow which was being taken to the slaughterhouse," explained defence advocate Kala Dalal.
The cow walked over a distance of 1.5 km, in a procession organized by the members of the Go Raksha Samiti (Cow Protection Committee).
"We had filed the complaint last year against the illegal slaughterhouse. We have brought the cow to court in order to take the case to its logical conclusion," Hanumant Parad, a senior member of the Samiti, said.
Udderly ridiculous. But I’m sure we’ll milk this for all it’s worth.
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