Kolkata: A BJP-backed outfit in West Bengal will conduct a census of cow population in the state in an attempt to raise awareness about how to protect them.

From August 1, hundreds of volunteers of the Gau Raksha Committee, which has many BJP members, will fan out in the state for the exercise, the outfit said. The survey will be done in two parts. A head count of cows will be done and it will be repeated after Bakr Eid in September to see how many cows went missing.