Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Feb 1: After a pick-up truck loaded with nine heads of cattle went wayward and tumbled, three cows died on the spot. This incident occurred near Belanje Hanadi Cross near Hebri in the taluk on Saturday January 30.

A police team led by Hebri station house officer, Seetaram P, which came to know in advance about this illegal cattle transportation, was waiting for the vehicle on Saturday morning near Belanje. The driver of the pick-up truck, perhaps growing nervous at the sight of police personnel, began to drive the vehicle erratically. As a result, he lost control over the vehicle, after which the vehicle wobbled and jumped over the edge of the road and down the gorge.

The Hebri police have taken into possession the vehicle worth about Rs 4 lac and six cows valued at Rs 25,000. The cattle thieves managed to flee from the accident spot. Investigation is progressing.

The fact that incidents of cattle theft and transportation have been on an increase in the region in spite of measures like police vigil and rule regarding obtaining of panchayat letter permitting such transportation, have given rise to suspicion in the minds of the people. Some villagers from Andaru village say that street lights are switched off during specific periods at night to help these thieves. During the last some months, cows have been going missing from villages like Andaru, Kadtala, Muniyal, Mudradi, Belanje and nearby areas. Cows found by the roadside and also in some cattle sheds have been stolen at night, they claim.