24-hour cow-smuggling hotline launched

Local residents told to report cattle-rustling at any time of day – and other tall tales

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Our pick of the strange stories from around the world.

Cowline launched in India

The Indian state of Haryana has set up a 24-hour emergency hotline for local residents to report the smuggling or slaughter of cows in their area. Officials say the hotline is designed to help police enforce a law enacted last year that punishes the slaughter of cows with up to ten years in prison. The sale and consumption of beef is taboo in many parts of India as the cow is considered a sacred animal by the country's majority Hindu population.

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