Pics: Stephan Kayyar

Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Mar 20: The state government has suspended superintendent of the open jail at Cheemeni here, reportedly for performing worship of a cow. V G Suresh, jail superintendent, was suspended pending inquiry into the allegation.

The department of prisons had received complaint that Suresh had performed 'Gou Puja' or puja of cows. This incident allegedly happened when cows gifted by Sri Ramachandrapur Math were being handed over to the jail. Director general of prisons and correctional services, R Shreelekha, had submitted a report to the government after holding investigation into the complaint. The leftist leaders of the state had criticized the officer for allowing performance of Gou Puja and raising slogans hailing the animal in the jail premises. Even the chief miinister,Pinarayi Vijayan, and former chief minister, Achutanandan, had termed the puja as wrong.

Under the directions of IPS officer, R Shreelekha, northern range deputy inspector general, Shivadas Taiparambil, had investigated the case and submitted report to her.

A cattle shed and a unit for raising and breeding goats has started functioning at this jail. The said Math had gifted cows to the unit. It is said that when the cows were being handed over, a programme was held in the presence of the spiritual head of the Math, Sri Raghaveshwara Swamiji, in which the cows were worshipped and some people had shouted slogans hailing the cow.

The government later had received complaint from certain quarters, alleging that the said officer had allowed to perform worship of the cow.

In the meanwhile, advocate and BJP district president, K Srikant, has said that this case reflects the anti-Hindu stance of the left front government led by Pinarayi Vijayan. He took the stand that performing worship of the cow and hailing cow as holy mother were not wrong, and criticized those who view every ritual of Hindus from communal angle. He pointed out that the government had not spent anything for cow worship, and the cows were given to the jail as gift. He said that the government has been making arrangements for talks by Muslim scholars and Christian priests inside jails in the state. "The government, which does not find fault with these, has been deriding only Hindu observations and rituals. Chief minster, Pinarayi Vijayan, should lift the suspension of the jail superintendent and tender public apology for this mistake," he demanded.