IIT-Bombay guards to stand outside classrooms to shoo away cows
The idea is to avoid any more cases of stray cattle entering the classrooms and laboratories until the institute comes up with a more workable solution.
Two days after a video of a cow entering a classroom at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) went viral, the institute has deployed guards outside classrooms, as a stop-gap arrangement to shoo away stray cattle.
The idea is to avoid any more cases of stray cattle entering the classrooms and laboratories until the institute comes up with a more workable solution.
“For the time being, the director of the institute has requested the IIT-B security officer to place three guards on duty round-the-clock for shooing the cattle away from the academic area, without harming any of the animals,” said a spokesperson for the institute.
A special committee was also constituted in the past to tackle the human-animal conflict that has been going on campus at present. This committee is also in touch with the civic body as well as animal experts to find a permanent solution to the problem.
IIT-B students said that stray cattle, as well as dogs entering classrooms and laboratories, are a common sight, especially during monsoon. “A similar committee was constituted some years ago, which led to the construction of a gaushala inside the campus. However, the cattle still wander off and find their way to the academic and residential buildings,” said a student, on condition of anonymity.
A few weeks ago, another incident brought to light the serious issue of stray animals on campus after a CCTV camera captured two bulls raging towards an unaware student and trampling him. The student had to be admitted to a hospital with abdominal injuries.