Concertina wires pose dangers to cattle, stray dogs

Sanam Aijaz

Srinagar, July, 23: Concertina wire erected by security forces to help prevent protests at sensitive places across Kashmir valley may have acted as a barricade for humans but it has harmed speechless cattle and also stray dogs.

Animals most of these cows have got stuck in these wires and got injured. This morning, a milking cow got stuck in wire in Lolab valley of Kupwara district and got severely injured. Some locals managed to rescue the cow but not before the sharp edged blades of the wire slit the face of the cow.

“Milking cow severely injured due to sharp blades bled profusely as some locals managed to rescue her. The wire was set up by security forces’ as barricade against people but it nearly took the life of a cow here,” said locals to Newspoint over phone.

Similarly cows have got stuck in the wire at other places including Srinagar, Sopore and other major towns. The sharp edged wire put on roads, street, markets and interiors of human habitations is posing a great danger to cattle

Stray dogs have also become victims of the sharp edged wires across the valley. Reports said that at many places dogs have got stuck in these wires. In view of spiraling protests in valley for past six weeks, security forces have blocked roads and lanes by barricades to restrict peoples’ movement.

Reports said that many cattle and stray dogs were also injured at different places in north and south Kashmir due to the concertina wires. Locals said that concertina wires has not only restricted the movement of people but also cattle and other animals.

“My bull got injured when he was caught in the concertina wire placed by the police”, said a Bramullah local. These wires can prove fatal as these carry poison amid sharp blades.