Trichy: Animal activists have blamed police inaction against erring cattle owners for the increasing cases of cattle deaths in road accidents in Trichy city. Cattle found feeding on the grass and plants, especially those growing in the median of highways, often fall victim to speeding vehicles.However, the activists alleged that instead of acting against the people who let the cattle loose on roads, police allow the owners to take possession of the animal under treatment or its carcass if dead. Animal activists have taken strong exception to this practice saying the erring owners are neither penalised nor slapped with cases for indulging in the illegal act which poses danger to motorists besides claiming the lives of these animals.The city corporation used to penalise cattle owners if their animals were seized while wandering on roads until a few months ago. However, this is not happening any more as the civic body says it doesn’t have adequate space to accommodate and maintain the seized animals. Honorary animal welfare officer of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), G Ramakrishnan, says he rescued about 45 animals in October alone.Most of these animals were cows and bulls which were made to wander on the road in search of food by their owners. Most of the animals died due to multiple bone fractures after being hit by speeding vehicles while some are getting treated under his supervision. Ramakrishnan said that he had been approached by people claiming ownership of many animals which were victims of road accidents. However, on many occasions, the claim was not made out of any genuine concern but for making money by selling the meat. He said that he had lodged a complaint with the police, but they also shrugged off their responsibility.“When I approached the police seeking action against an owner for letting his cattle wander on roads resulting in its death in a road accident, they refused to oblige. I was told by fort police station that such issues don’t come under law and order even when I offered to lodge a complaint,” he said. “What the police refused to acknowledge was that it was not just a question of animals dying in accidents, but also the grave threat they posed to the motorists involved,” he said.City police commissioner A Amalraj told TOI that it was the city corporation that must act against the erring owners.

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