Sureshwar Singh had written to the state's additional chief secretary (home) on May 6 saying: "After lockdown, the incidents of cow slaughter are on the rise in Bahraich district… Except calves and bulls, cows are seen in very less numbers."
Singh expressed apprehensions that if the trend continued, soon it would be difficult to spot a cow in the district, which is around 130 km from state capital Lucknow.
He further alleged that incidents of cattle theft too have increased in some areas of the district.
"Criminals are arrested and on the second or third day, released on parole," the MLA said in his letter as he sought Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's intervention in the matter.
Superintendent of police Vipin Mishra refused to comment on the matter. CORR ABN RHL