The Hindu

Mangalore, May 28: Social groups in Dakshina Kannada are pressuring the police to form a special squad to curb smuggling of livestock and human trafficking.

Several cases of human trafficking have been reported from the district. From Mangalore city, cases of child trafficking, child labour, forcible prostitution and livestock theft have been reported. The Campaign Against Child Labour-Karnataka (CACL-K), the Prajna Counselling Centre and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have appealed to the police to constitute a special group to curb such activities. Sources in non-governmental organisations told that Mangalore was one of the places for trafficking of children. Despite efforts of NGOs to protect street children from such crimes there have been instances of such children "vanishing".

Livestock Theft

Cases of livestock theft have been threatening the communal harmony of the district. State Bajrang Dal leader Rajgopal Rai has said that owners of livestock had reported cases of theft of cows, many of which had been recovered from cattle traders and illegal transporters of cattle.

According to Superintendent of Police B Dayananda, some groups in Dakshina Kannada had expressed concern over the illegal slaughter of cows.

He said the police was thinking of forming a squad to check illegal cattle trade. He said ever since the police had set up an outpost near the slaughterhouse in Mangalore city, illegal cow slaughter had been stopped.