Himalayan News Service

Ranchi, February 20:

This is the tale of a buffalo that simply refuses to be milked without its daily dose of BBC! And it’s not quite the British broadcaster that the animal is addicted to but khaini - a form of chewing tobacco that is popularly called “buddhi bardhak choorn”, or BBC, in Jharkhand.

For its owner Mangra Munda, a resident of Lohardagga district, the addiction has turned into a headache. For along with fodder, he has to shell out plenty of tobacco.

His buffalo demands the chewing tobacco six times a day and makes life difficult if it doesn’t get adequate amounts. “If we fail to provide chewing tobacco on time then it becomes horrible. The buffalo’s strong urge for tobacco makes it wild and it can do anything for khaini.