RSPCA accused of secret killing of 'Shambo II' as 'police distracted Buddhist monks'

Even though she had suffered a crippling injury which left her unable to stand, Hindu monks continued to provide round-the-clock care for their sacred cow Gangotri.

The 13-year-old Blue Jersey cross - which had severe muscle damage - was hand fed and groomed and enjoyed a daily scrub.

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So when RSPCA vets arrived at Bhaktivedanta Manor in Hertfordshire on Tuesday to check on the temple's 42-strong herd, they were welcomed in and proudly shown to Gangotri's quarters.

But the officials took a rather different view of the cow's condition.

Yesterday morning, a team from the RSPCA, flanked by police, returned to the 80-acre estate near Aldenham - donated by the Beatles' George Harrison - and put Gangotri down.

The monks claim they were physically removed or distracted while the injection was administered.

They say the Hindu community is threatening to protest on a scale not seen since Shambo the bull was destroyed in July.

Shambo, an elderly temple bull in Wales, had bovine TB and was slaughtered after massive protests and a failed legal challenge.

Temple president Gauri Das, 46, said: "We have had our trust betrayed and our community is in shock.

"It is a very, very sad day. If you come to our temple you will see people here grieving as if their mother had died.

"This is shocking and duplicitous behaviour."

He added: "In our religion, the cow is treated like you would treat your mother, it is considered to be at the top of civilisation.

"If you kill a cow you have to be reborn in hellish conditions for as many times as there are hairs on the cow's body."

Gangotri suffered an injury to her back 13 months ago when one of the temple's bulls tried to mount her.

She was left unable to stand and was expected to die within weeks.

But - in what is seen as a spiritual sign by the temple's worshippers - she survived and, according to Mr Das, was leading a happy life.

But the RSPCA insisted it could not ignore the obvious suffering of the animal and was forced to act after talks failed.

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In a statement, the RSPCA said it had done "everything it could" to take account of religious sensitivities.

But it added: "This animal has been in constant pain and suffering for some time.

"We know the cow has been suffering from painful and infected sores, her limbs had become wasted and her breathing difficult.

"Three separate vets, including from the Royal College of Vets, from Defra and an independent vet, have all agreed that the animal was suffering and should be immediately euthanised."

Barry Gardiner, the Labour MP for Brent North, brought up the incident in the Commons yesterday afternoon.

He said an "outrage" had been perpetrated against the Hindu community when RSPCA vets arrived "unannounced" to put down the cow.