The Kila-Raipur rural games near Ludhiana, which has earned the sobriquet of “Rural Olympics” by showcasing the Punjabi gusto, daredevilry and endurance, is courting controversy this year for organising bullock cart race in the games. The bullock racing event was taking place in the games for many decades, despite the blanket ban by the environment ministry on such races.
However this year, the Union environment ministry’s Animal Welfare Board of India, has asked the Punjab government through a communiqué to ensure that bullock cart races are not held the Kila-Raipur rural games. The four-day games, which started on Thursday, are held in the first half of February every year.
The communiqué states that “The bullock cart races are illegal and have to be stopped. They involve violations of Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and constitute a contravention to the Government of India notification of 11.7. 2011”.
The environment ministry’s directive caught the organisers off guard.
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COBRA battalion HQ in assam
MANOJ ANAND
Guwahati, Feb. 9
The home ministry has given nod for setting up a battalion headquarters of the Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA), under the command and control of the CRPF in Assam.
Disclosing that it would be catering to the security requirement of all the northeastern states, security sources in the state home department told this newspaper that Assam government has identified a plot comprising 300 acre land in Assam’s Darrang district for setting up the battalion.
Informing that the proposal to grant land will have to be approved by the state Cabinet, security sources said that state home department would place the proposal for giving land before the state Cabinet in its next meeting.
The Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by the Prime Minister in 2008 had decided to raise a 10,000-strong special anti-Naxal force COBRA to combat the growing Left-wing extremism in the country.
Pointing out that the Northeast being militancy hit area, security sources said that COBRA personnel would be imparted special training in terrain and topography of the region.
It is significant that Assam government was insisting on setting up of a regional hub of NSG commando in Assam.