Reward of Rs. 50,000 for a missing bull

VARANASI: Upset by the missing of a ‘saand’ (bull) the owner has announced a reward of Rs. 50,000 with a hope of safe return of the animal. Posters displaying bull’s photograph with physical description and reward amount have been pasted in the several localities. Besides, a missing report was also registered with Sarnath police station.
However, this animal does not enjoy the status like the buffaloes of Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan for which seven the senior police officers had gone for a hunt in 2014.In this case the police registered a missing report only.
The three-year-old bull named as ‘Badshah’ and owned by Manoj Kumar Pandey of Sarnath area went missing a week back. After failing to search the animal Pandey went to the police station for help and lodged a missing report on Sunday. The Sarnath SO Mahendra Prasad Yadav said that the missing report of the bull has been registered. He claimed that efforts are being made to locate it.
Announcing such a hefty amount for an animal may surprise others, but Pandey is ready to spend the amount. “Badshah is not merely an animal for us, but like a family member having an access to our kitchen and bedroom,” he told to TOI adding that the bull used to roam in the area without causing any harm to anyone. Instead it served those who brought cows for insemination. “Only objective behind announcing the reward is that the amount will attract those who have taken away the bull with them for selling purpose,” he said.
“Yeh humare liye Nandi tha jiski hum puja karte thei, lekin ab who gayab hai,” (The bull was a Nandi for us, and we worshipped it, but now it is missing), said Pandey adding that some people had come to his place a week ago with a cow for insemination. Possibly they would have taken away it with them, he added.
Saand (bull) revered as ‘Nandi’ –Lord Shiva’s mount, in Varanasi. Bulls can be found roaming on roads and streets everywhere in the city. One can see a bull sitting in the middle of road, but no one can hurt it, as it is believed to be the symbol of Shiva, and treated with respect.