A Muslim corporator in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut town has handed over his cow to the police to avoid being “attacked by cow vigilantes or landing in jail,” Hindustan Times reported.

Abdul Gaffar, a Bahujan Samaj Party corporator from Ward 73, on Tuesday requested the station house officer of Nauchandi police station, Sanjay Kumar, to keep the cow as he didn’t feel safe. He was accompanied by his family and neighbours.

Gaffar said he asked Kumar to give his cow only to someone or some organisation who could take care of her.

“I will go and check her well being every month,” Gaffar said.

The resident of Manzoor Nagar locality said he was given a receipt by the police after he handed over the cow to them. He said it was a difficult decision for him adding that his sister had gifted him the calf two years ago and he had raised it with affection and care.

He said his decision to give away the cow had nothing to do with his party and that it was his personal decision.

Superintendent of police (city) Maan Singh Chauhan said the cow will be returned to Gaffar.

Gaffar, however, is adamant and doesn’t want to take it back.

Cow vigilantism has been the catalyst of violence across India in the last few years. The self-styled gaurakshaks have lynched people, snatched away cows and sparked a fear among a section of the population even without the sanction from the ruling parties and authorities.

Opposition parties accuse the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre of not reigning in fringe groups that are allegedly targeting the minority community over issues considered sacrosanct by the Hindus.