Cattle theft: Owner of stolen cattle too arrested on assault charge

August 22, 2013

Puttur, Aug 22: A day after seven cattle thieves, allegedly belonging to a Hindutva outfit, were caught red-handed by the residents of Savanoor near here, police on Thursday arrested the owner of the stolen cows, thanks to the counter-complaint lodged by one of the alleged thieves.

Usman, whose cows were stolen allegedly by Bajrang Dal activists, was arrested after Sundara Poojary, the driver of the pick-up van that was transporting the cattle, lodged a complaint at jurisdictional Kadaba police station accusing the former of assaulting him and others onboard the waylaid vehicle.

However, Usman was released on bail after he was produced before a local court hours after the arrest.

On Wednesday night police had arrested seven alleged cattle thieves identified as Eshwar, Karunakara, Dinesha, Narayana, Sundara Poojary, Santosha and Shafi after the pick-up van in which they were transporting cattle were waylaid by the mob at around 7:30 p.m. at Savanoor.

Subsequently, all the seven alleged thieves were released on bail. Soon after the release, one of them lodged a counter complaint against Usman, who had lodged complaint against them for stealing cows.

According to local residents, at least six of the arrested cattle traffickers are Bajrang Dal activists. However, a Bajrand Dal leader has said that none of the arrested belonged to their organisation. “They might be the activists of Congress party but not Bajrang Dal,” he said.

It was confirmed that the cattle that were being transported on board pick-up vehicle, belonged to Usman, and the thieves had been transporting them to Kerala from a 'Go Pratishsthana Kendra' run by Hindutva outfits in Savanoor.

Cattle belonging to Usman were stolen by thieves a few days ago. It is believed that the thieves had kept stolen cattle at 'Go Pratishsthana Kendra' for two days.

The police said the group confessed to taking the cattle from the field, with the intention of “protecting” the cattle in a nearby goshala in Puttur.

“The seven men arrested are Usman's neighbours, who say they were fed up with Usman letting his cattle graze on their fields. So, after several warnings, they decided to take the cattle to the goshala to teach them a lesson… because of this, we have not invoked the Cow Slaughter Act against them, instead booking them only for cattle theft,” said Superintendent of Police Abhishek Goyal.

Responding to allegations that the arrested belonged to a Hindutva organisation, Bajrang Dal, which had called for a press conference in Puttur on Thursday, denied that the arrested men belonged to their group.

Also Read: Cattle theft racket: Thieves caught red-handed, finally

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Lokayukta team arrives at disputed plot; CM likely to get ED summons

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru, Oct 1: The Karnataka Lokayukta team on Tuesday arrived at the disputed plot in Mysuru and began investigation into the MUDA case against CM Siddaramaiah and his wife, news agency ANI reported. Snehamayi Krishna, the complainant in the case was also present with the team.

Sources stated that ED sleuths might issue a notice to CM Siddaramaiah at any time and issue summons to him for questioning. The sleuths are also keenly watching the movements of CM Siddaramaiah’s close associates and relatives, including a cabinet minister in connection with the MUDA scam.

Sources further said that there is a possibility of the ED conducting raids across the state on offices and residences of close associates of CM Siddaramaiah. The ED has also gathered information on bank accounts and financial transactions of CM Siddaramaiah and his associates.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Monday registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), equivalent to an FIR by the police, against CM Siddaramaiah over the alleged irregularities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife Parvathi B.M. by the Mysore Urban Development Authority. The ED registered the case taking cognisance of the FIR registered against the Chief Minister by the Lokayukta police on September 27.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Lokayukta probing the MUDA case has also expedited the probe. The sleuths led by Mysuru Lokayukta SP T.J. Udesh have visited the controversial land on the outskirts of Mysuru city. The petitioner, Snehamayi Krishna, also accompanied the team.

The move of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife to return 14 sites allotted by the MUDA to her has triggered a debate. BJP MLA from Mysuru T.S. Srivatsa stated on Tuesday that the move of CM’s wife is not acceptable. "The two commissioners who colluded in the MUDA scam are roaming freely even today," he said.

"CM Siddaramaiah first claimed that there was no scam at all. Later, he formed a commission and now there is an FIR against him. After committing the mistake, you offer to return the sale deed. The time is up. He will have to tender his resignation and I am sure he won’t be in the position until Dasara festivities," MLA T.S. Srivatsa stated.

T.J. Abraham, one of the petitioners in the MUDA case said, “I had demanded the MUDA commissioner to take back the allotted sites. He had written back saying the process would be initiated. They were waiting for the investigation report."

"CM Siddaramaiah has not approached the division bench or the Supreme Court to challenge the order against him because there is nothing to be challenged. Returning sites is not a big sacrifice. The Chief Minister has lost it," Abraham stated.

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