Gir Cow Row: Changsari Man Not Legal Owner of Cattle in Udalguri

In a startling development in the ongoing Gir cow ownership controversy in Assam, it has now emerged that Basanta Sarania, a resident of Changsari in Kamrup district, is not the legal owner of the Gir cows found at the residence of Prasanna Rabha in Udalguri's Bergaon. According to documents that have come to light during an investigation by Pratidin Time, the cows were officially purchased in the name of Dibyajyoti Kashyap, and not Basanta Sarania.

As per records, on February 10, 2022, a total of 32 Gir cows were brought from Gujarat by Basanta Sarania and Dibyajyoti Kashyap. However, the official ownership, as per all transport and purchase documents, is registered solely under Kashyap’s name.

Despite this, Sarania had been claiming ownership of the cows and had even appeared in Udalguri with files in hand, asserting that the Gir cows belonged to him.

While speaking exclusively to Pratidin Time, Sarania said, “Yes, the cows are mine. They were brought to Changsari in February 2022. It is a long journey from Gujarat to Changsari. A neighbour of mine, named Dibyajyoti Kashyap, helped me with the purchase. I have submitted all the medical and DNA test reports related to the cows. I am in no way connected to the Garukhuti cow scam. These cows were not brought through any illegal means; I worked hard and brought them from Bhavnagar in Junagadh, Gujarat."

Sarania possesses only the DNA test certificate and no other legal ownership papers. After rearing the cows for nearly two years, he eventually handed them over to Prasanna Rabha free of cost, citing personal difficulties.

"Due to personal hardships, I was unable to continue keeping the cows. That’s why I handed them over to a friend of mine in Bhergaon, Udalguri, purely out of goodwill. They were not given in exchange for money", he said.

Further investigation reveals that DNA certification documents for the cows also mention Dibya Kashyap as the rightful owner. Kashyap is a resident of Guwahati and currently lives in an apartment near Agradoot Bhawan in Guwahati's Kahilipara. When confronted with evidence by Pratidin Time, Sarania was forced to admit on camera that he is not the actual owner of the cattle.

Sarania also secured necessary permissions from the Animal Husbandry Department prior to transporting the cows from Gujarat to Assam. He said that both he and a veterinary team from the department received training in Gujarat before the animals were transported via railway. He also added that health tests were conducted, and all details of the cows are officially documented there. Nevertheless, all purchase and transport documentation remains exclusively with Dibya Kashyap.

Though Kashyap holds all legal ownership records, Sarania claims that 12 of the 32 Gir cows were his. He stated that due to certain eligibility issues at the time of purchase, the cows had to be registered under Dibya Kashyap’s name. Sarania reportedly paid ₹6 lakh for the 12 cows.

When asked by Pratidin Time why the DNA reports list Dibyajyoti Kashyap as the owner, Sarania said, "I must clarify, I did not meet the eligibility criteria to carry out the official paperwork as an owner. All documentation and transactions were therefore done in Dibyajyoti Kashyap’s name. As per records, he is shown as the owner, while I am mentioned as the dairy farmer.”

He then claimed, "I have not availed of any government scheme or subsidy. I took a personal loan of ₹6 lakh from the Bank of India to purchase the cows."

This latest revelation has added a new layer of complexity to the already controversial issue, raising questions about the legal ownership and distribution of gir cows in Assam.

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