Daltonganj: Two cows were electrocuted after allegedly coming in contact with an illegally electrified barbed wire fence put up around a green gram field at Tara village in Palamu district on June 19, prompting police to lodge a case against the farmer.Police said the field belongs to Asfak, a resident of Tara village, who had fenced his crop to protect it from stray and wild animals. “The fence was electrified by illegally hooking from a nearby electric pole,” said Haidernagar police station officer in-charge T Mannan.The fence allegedly electrocuted two cows belonging to Raseedan Bibi and Najmun Bibi of Parta hamlet. Following the deaths, both women filed a complaint with Haidernagar police station, following which a case was registered on June 19.“We have started an investigation,” Mannan said. Hussainabad SDPO Divyansh Shukla added, “The matter is being looked into.”Sources said farmers in Palamu often struggle to protect standing crops from monkeys, wild boars, nilgai and stray cattle, leading many to install fencing and other deterrent measures. However, in this case, the accused allegedly electrified the fence. Green gram, a short-duration cash crop that matures in 60–70 days, is widely cultivated in both kharif and rabi seasons.
