Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)
Kundapur, Jul 18: In connection with the interception of a vehicle carrying cattle illegally near the tollgate at Sasthan on national highway 66 in the wee hours on July 12, two policemen, who have been accused of being hand in glow with cattle transporters, were arrested on Wednesday July 17.
Cattle worth lacs of rupees had been rescued in the above incident. Six accused had been arrested. During the questioning, the police came to know that police personnel had extended support to this gang of cattle thieves. On the basis of information so collected, two police personnel have been arrested.
Kota SI Nityananda Gowda
The arrested policemen happen to be Santosh Shetty of Coastal Security Force at Malpe and Vinod Gowda, presently posted at Manki in Uttara Kannada district. It is said that names of four police personnel working in different police stations in the district have emerged during the questioning and that all of them have gone underground. One of them is said to be the gunman of a senior police officer.
Kota police sub-inspector, Nityananda Gowda, had come to know from reliable sources during the early hours of July 12 that cattle were being illegally and inhumanly transported in a lorry that was provided security cover by an escort vehicle. He had intercepted the vehicles near Sasthan tollgate and arrested car driver, Shivananda, Maruti Narayan Naik who was in the car, lorry driver Zainuddin, and others in the lorry, Ganeshan, Hameed C H, and Sameer. 13 buffaloes worth Rs 65,000 and seven she buffaloes worth Rs 35,000 had been rescued. In addition to the cattle, lorry worth Rs 12 lac and a Tata Indica car worth two lac rupees had been confiscated.
During the questioning, the police learnt that the accused had stolen 20 cattle from somewhere. The animals were being taken to a slaughterhouse in Kasargod district, the accused told the police. They also revealed that the police were supporting their activity.
The two policemen named by the accused were produced in a court here on Wednesday. The court remanded them to 15 days judicial custody. Search has been launched to locate the four other police personnel, who have remained elusive. Four other accused involved with this crime were taken into custody on Tuesday. They are being questioned.