Traders accused of letting animals die for claims

Murder for money

- POOJA NAIR @Malappuram

EVERY morning, Rajesh N P, a dairy farmer in Edachalam in Kuttippuram, walks along the banks of the Bharathappuzha with a heavy heart. Where healthy cows once grazed and local farmers shared stories are disturbing signs of neglect: Starving animals bound under the sun, too weak to stand. It's not disease or old age that's claiming them, but deliberate cruelty, fuelled by greed.

A chilling scam has come to light, where a group of unscrupulous cattle traders are allegedly allowing cows to die in agony just to cash in on inflated insurance claims. The practice, described by locals as "murder for money", has sparked widespread protest and demands for government intervention.