Three held for illegal cattle transport

Udupi: The Amasebail police in Udupi district foiled an illegal cattle transportation attempt during a night patrol operation and arrested three accused while rescuing the animals. According to police, PSI Ashok Kumar was on night rounds within the station limits when personnel stationed at Hosangadi check post intercepted a pick-up vehicle at around 5am on Sunday. The vehicle, which was heading towards the check post from Hulikal Ghat side, was stopped and inspected. During the inspection, two bulls were found crammed inside the vehicle. On questioning, the occupants reportedly admitted that the cattle was being transported for slaughter. The estimated value of the cattle is around Rs 1 lakh, while the vehicle is valued at approximately Rs 4 lakh. Police also grew suspicious of a white car following the vehicle. Suspecting it to be an escort vehicle, officers stopped it, following which the driver and another accused fled the scene. One person in the car was arrested. A case has been registered at Amasebail police station under sections 4, 5, 7 and 12 of the Karnataka Prevention of cow slaughter and preservation of cattle act, 2020; section 11(1)(d) of the prevention of cruelty to animals act; and section 66 (1) read with 192 (A) of the motor vehicles act. The arrested accused have been identified as Mustaq Hussain Sab Nadaf, 29, Saleem Hussain Sab Nadaf, 33, from Ramdurg, Belagavi district, and Nadeem Abdul Khader, 34, currently residing in Byndoor taluk. All the accused have been produced before the court.