Changrang outcry: Villagers demand answers as panchayat stays silent after cow slaughter

Angry villagers in Changrang have raised sharp questions after a cow was bought, sold and then slaughtered near a local river. The incident has left people upset and worried. For three days, they say, no representative from the Gram Panchayat Unit (GPU) or the Panchayat board came to their village to deal with the matter.

“Where is the Panchayat of our GPU? What is their role?” asked one resident at a gathering of elders, villagers and learned members of the community. The villagers said they expected local leaders to stand with them and to lead when a serious issue touched the life of the village. Instead, they say, the matter was handled only by neighbours, relatives and local elders.

According to villagers, a person from the south bought the cow and another person later sold it. The animal was then slaughtered by the river close to the village. People say the cow had been kept in the village for four months. The sight and the act caused deep distress among families here, especially because it happened during recent puja days when the village felt more vulnerable.

Villagers said they tried to get signatures and help from their elected representatives, but none arrived. “We needed the signature of our representatives today. No one from Changrang Panchayat Board or GPU Panchayat came,” a villager. This, they say, added to the hurt and the feeling that local governance had let them down at a critical time.

The villagers thanked the police department for their help. They said the police cooperated and the community managed to catch one person believed to be involved in the act. Beyond that, they said, they do not know if the case will be followed up properly by those who are meant to protect and guide the village.

Many in the meeting warned that such actions do not end with a single incident. “Selling and slaughtering cattle like this creates social unrest,” a villager said. They fear that if nothing changes, similar incidents may happen in other places across the state. For that reason, they asked the Panchayat to make clear rules and to set up steps that local people and outsiders must follow when taking animals in or out of the village.

The village elders asked for a simple set of rules. They want clear checks when cattle move from one village to another. They asked the Panchayat to make these steps known and to act quickly when a social matter like this takes place. For them this is not only about an animal. It is about fairness, respect and the safety of the whole village.

Villagers said they do not want the situation to spill into violence. They want their leaders to come forward and listen. They asked the Panchayat to be visible in times of trouble and to carry out their duties for the safety of the people who elected them.

Local people said that during festivals and pujas they expected better oversight. They worry that outsiders might take advantage when key people are not present. They said the Panchayat’s absence during such days made them feel unprotected and neglected.

Police action was modest but welcomed. The villagers said that the police helped to find and detain one person. They thanked the police for the quick help. But they also said that catching one person is not enough. They want the system around them to be stronger so that the village can feel safe again.

Village elders said they will demand an official meeting with the Panchayat and GPU officials. They want written rules, public notice of those rules, and a plan for how the Panchayat will respond quickly when a social issue appears. They also want a clear record that shows which official is responsible for such cases.

Community members asked everyone, whether from Sikkim or from outside, to understand the pain caused by the incident. “If you cannot take care of cattle, don’t keep them,” they said. “Selling them and slaughtering them like this only creates trouble for everyone.”

The villagers said they are willing to discuss fair solutions. They do not want to punish people for reasons that are unclear. They want open talks, transparent rules and a firm promise from local leaders to act when the village is hurt.