Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)

Udupi, May 30: An elderly man who was transporting cattle, allegedly illegally, in the wee hours of Wednesday May 30 died under suspicious circumstances. His family has alleged that he was murdered by Bajrang Dal activists.

The deceased has been identified as Hussainabba (61) from Jokatte, Mangaluru.

The incident took place at Perdoor at around 4 am on Wednesday.

It is learnt that four persons including Hussainabba were allegedly transporting cattle illegally in a Scorpio from Perdoor to Udupi. The police waylaid their vehicle to inspect. On seeing the police, the persons alighted and ran.

While three of them escaped together, Hussainabba ran in another direction and was chased by the police. It is not yet known how he met his death.

Family sources said that one of the three who managed to escape received a call from the police informing about Hussainabba's death. The family was told that Hussainabba died after suffering a fall while trying to escape.

However, the family has alleged that police along with activists of Bajrang Dal beat him to death. They said there were head and eye injuries on Hussainabba's body.

Speaking to reporters, Hussainabba's brother-in-law said, "Hussainabba has been doing cattle business for the past 35 years. The locals too used to contact him whenever they needed to buy or sell cattle. Last night too he went about his business as usual. When the police waylaid the vehicle, he reversed the car. There are injuries on his head and eyes as well as legs, which indicate that he might have been assaulted.

"Two years ago, Bajrang Dal activists had tied up Hussainabba and forced him to drink urine. The same people may have been behind his death. The call informing about his death was made through Hussainabba's phone. The caller said Hussainabba was found fallen on a hill."

Senior Congress leader M A Gafoor who came to the spot said, "Hussainabba's death is suspicious. There are injuries on his head and eyes. The family has already filed a complaint in the Hiradka police station alleging murder. We demand a thorough investigation into the case."

Hussainabba's body has been kept at Manipal hospital morgue.

SP Laxman Nimbargi visited the spot and conducted investigations along with other police officers.

In their complaint, the family alleged that Bajrang Dal activists gheraoed Hussainabba's vehicle and beat him to death.

Speaking to reporters, SP Nimbargi said, "At around 4.15 am, a call was received at Hiriadka police station about cattle trafficking and police rushed to the spot. On seeing the police, those in the Scorpio reversed the vehicle for about 200 metres. Thereafter, the police filed a cattle theft case.

"Hussainabba's family has submitted a complaint stating that the four were waylaid by Bajrang Dal activists. They have also named one of the accused as Surya. At around 11 am today (Wednesday), the police as well as the family received a call that a body was found on a hill in Perdoor. It was Hussainabba's body. It has been shifted to Manipal hospital for post-mortem," he said.

"Whether it is Bajrang Dal or anyone else, we will trace down the culprits and bring them to book. We will investigate the case thoroughly and take strict action," the SP assured.

He also said that 12 calves were found in the vehicle, out of which two died and rest have been seized.