Rampur, Feb 3 (Agencies): After a bizarre search, the Uttar Pradesh Police has finally tracked down Minister Azam Khan's stolen buffaloes. Seven buffaloes, owned by the Samajwadi Party leader's had gone missing from his farmhouse in Rampur on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.

A high level search team was roped in on Saturday to hunt the stolen buffaloes. Senior administration officials were also reportedly a part of the team.

According to a report in the Times of India, Within minutes of the theft being reported, the entire hierarchy of Rampur police was at the crime scene. District chief superintendent of police Sadhna Goswami led the probe into the theft from the farmhouse in Pasiyapura village under Thanaganj police station of Rampur.

A squad of sniffer dogs was also deployed to trace the Minister's stolen animals. Incensed by the fact that the buffaloes could be stolen, three police officials are facing transfer due to the incident, CNN-IBN reported.

State tourism Minister Om Prakash Singh defended the suspension, saying that the government was in power to decide who could be transferred and promoted.

Khan has often been in the news for wrong reasons with the latest being his study trip abroad along with other UP ministers. According to the minister, their biggest learning on this trip, funded from the taxpayer's money, was waste management systems.

The latest incident is just another reminder of the ridiculous kind of power misuse that exists in Uttar Pradesh when it comes to ruling politicians. It also highlights a blatant disregard for public opinion and unwillingness to change.