The Hindu community in Britain expressed its shock at the killing of Gangotri, a sacred cow at the largest Hindu temple at the Bhaktivedanta Manor, on Thursday morning.

“The RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), aided by a vet and escorted by police officers, secretly killed a cow at the Bhaktivedanta Manor this morning while worshippers were at prayer,” the community said in a statement.

“The cow, named Gangotri, a 13-year-old Belgian Blue and Jersey cross, and much loved by the community, was killed at 9 am at the Bhaktivedanta Manor. Police bundled away monks who were in attendance of the sick cow, and the head farmer was kept talking while inside the barn a lethal injection was given to the cow.”

“Cows are sacred to Hindus, and the killing of a cow is considered to be an outrageous act. The killing of a cow at a temple amounts of religious sacrilege of the worst kind,” the community said.

The killing was conducted despite assurances given the previous day from RSPCA officers and police that due to religious sensitivities no immediate action would be taken.

It may be recalled that a sacred bull named Shambo was slaughtered in the UK in July last after it had been diagnosed with tuberculosis. Shambo was slaughtered despite an intense campaign by Hindu groups to save him.

Original article available at http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14575549

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