Any other place in beefy Kerala, the campaign would have invited sneers and protests. But not Neyyattinkara where the people watch the trauma of the cows’ last trek to slaughterhouses. "Not even water on the way. If an animal faints, it is left to die," says a vhp activist. On Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, truckloads of cattle arrive at Kaleekavila, a border village. From there, the kilometres-long trudge to the checkpost begins. There are several Neyyattinkaras on the Kerala border, which the Gau Raksha Samiti intends to besiege in the next phase of its "struggle". The vhp is awaiting the government’s response before announcing the dates. When asked if the government was aware of the cruelty to animals, CM A.K. Antony said he would examine the issue.