As many as 17 cows died of starvation after they were locked inside a deserted school building in a village of Dabra tehsil in Gwalior district.

The incident swept wave of anger among the locals and gau rakshaks but it is yet to be found as who had locked these animals without food and water inside the building.

Taking strong note of the incident animal husbandry minister Lakhan Singh has ordered a probe into the incident.

Police said, the incident was reported from Samudan village of Dabra in Gwalior district.

The villagers believe that any local farmer hassled with persistent intrusion of cattle inside the farm might have locked these cows inside the school room. Since, there was no folder and water available and a single room was crammed with 17 cows, all of them died due to asphyxiation.

Police claimed that the cows where locked for around a week and had nothing to eat, due to which they died. After the foul smell of the cows’ bodies spread, the locals opened the door to find cows dead.

However after the matter came to light , the panicked local administration started burying the cows but Gau Rakshak got a whiff and created a ruckus on the spot. Afterwards the administration assured them of probe and performed proper burial of the dead animals.

Animal Husbandry Minister Lakhan Singh termed the act highly insensitive and in human. The Minister claimed that the matter would be probed and anyone found guilty would not be spared.

Besides, Chief Minister Kamal Nath also tweeted his disappointment and sadness over the incident. An enquiry has been ordered and guilty would not be spared from stringent action, said the chief minister.