Special squads formed to handle cattle theft issue: ComPol

Mangaluru: “Police have taken cattle theft issue very seriously. Special squads have been formed to keep surveillance on old cattle offenders. Night beats have been increased in all police station limits and random visits to cattle offenders’ houses will be undertaken to check their activities,” informed Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil on Friday, June 28.

“Strong preventive action is being taken against old offenders. Mainly these offenders are from few areas in Mangaluru city, Mangaluru rural district, Udupi and Kasaragod. Letter has been written to SP to keep surveillance over old offenders in their areas,” he added.

“Special squads will be tracing and arresting absconding cattle offenders Kutta Imran, Basheer and Ansar,” informed Mr Patel.

Recently, there has been a rise in cattle trafficking in the city which has made way for communal violence. The situation escalated when seized cattle were handed back to the transporters by the court and the accused burst crackers as a sign of celebration. A video of this incident went viral on social media and was heavily condemned by pro-hindutva groups. The police was also urged by local politicians to take stringent action against cattle thieves.

Meanwhile KSRTC and private buses fell prey to stone pelting as retaliation to robbery cases booked against Hindu activists for allegedly stopping cattle transportation at Adyanadka.