Agra, India: A brutal acid attack by unknown persons on 15 cows and oxen in Karmana, barely 5km from the Taj Mahal, has led to tension in the area.

The district administration went into tizzy after some right-wing groups highlighted the issue of animals suffering serious burn injuries in the past one week in the village. Times of India has pictures of the suffering animals but has decided not to use them due to their graphic nature.

The district magistrate has sent a team of veterinary doctors to the village to examine the animals while an additional city magistrate and police force have been stationed in the area to ensure peace.

Mukesh Goswami, district coordinator of Bajrang Dal's Agra unit, said, ‘We had been receiving inputs about cows being attacked in Karmana and other nearby villages, but we failed to identify the assailants. On Sunday night, at least six cows were attacked and we informed the local administration about it.’

Raja Singh, station officer of Tajganj, said, ‘Based on a written complaint by Bajrang Dal activists, we have filed an FIR against unknown persons under IPC's section 429 (mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc).’

Ankaj Yadav, a villager, said, ‘Only those cows and oxen who were abandoned by their owners for being unproductive have been attacked.’

District veterinary officer Dr Ajay Sinha, who visited the village with a team of eight medical staff, said, ‘Five out of 15 bovines were found with severe burn injuries caused by acid, while others have received minor injuries. We believe since these are stray animals, they might have been attacked by local villagers when they spotted them in their agricultural field.’

Additional city magistrate Vandita Shrivastav said, ‘The cows and oxen have been given medical aid and the police, too, have filed an FIR. Whoever has attacked the animals will be arrested soon.’

In a separate incident, four cows were electrocuted in Mathura on Monday when a high tension wire fell on a tree to which they were tethered. All of them were killed on spot.