Farmers in Bjenag Gewog of Wangdue Phodrang are concerned about the rampant cattle lifting. Two chiwogs in the gewog reported around 20 cattle missing in the last one year. With the help of the police, the farmers were able to recover three animals all the way from Tsirang.
There are more than 1,500 cattle in the two chiwogs of Tashi Tokha and Bjenagloongpa_Thingmakha of Bjenag Gewog.
According to the people of Tashi Tokha chiwog, around 16 cattle have been lost from their community since the beginning of last year. The farmers usually migrate their cattle to the upper region in Khothangkha area in summer and back to their villages during winter. As most of the fields remain empty after the harvest, farmers leave their cattle freely to graze in the fields and nearby forests.
“We bring back our cattle from Khothangkha normally from the 9th month of the lunar calendar and then we keep them in our empty fields. Usually, our cattle come to the field in the evening and goes out to the forest during the day. My two cows went missing when we are about to fasten them last month. We have been losing our cattle for the last five years. Last year, we have lost five,” said Namgay Zam, a farmer in Tashi Tokha under Bjenag Gewog.
“One day in January last year, I have left my two cows after milking. But I found them missing from the place in the evening. Only two calves were left behind. We thought they might come back in the night but the cows never showed up. So, we searched along the river but we could not find them. Again I have lost two oxen this year and could not trace them. I have informed police about the missing of my two cows last year. But, did not inform about the missing of the oxen this year,” said Rinchen Dendup, the Tshogpa of Tashi Tokha under Bjenag Gewog.
It is the same case with the farmers in Bjenagloongpa_Thingmakha chiwog under the same gewog.
“I have lost my bulls last month. I went to feed them on 11th and found them, as usual, in their shed. But I found them missing the next day when I went there to feed them again. I searched thoroughly thinking that they might have strayed away to other cattle but could not find them. Actually, I suspected those suspects already and they also confessed. But they said my oxen are no more alive now,” said Sangay Lham, from Thingmakha.
According to Wangdue police, six people are arrested and the case was forwarded to the court today.
Changa Dorji, BBS, Wangdue Phodrang
