Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Feb 24: A person named Augustine Joachim Rodrigues from Anelabbu in Kaniyoor in the taluk, was arrested by the Uppinangady policemen on Wednesday February 23. He has been accused of feeding poison to a number of cows and other cattle owned by local residents, Rajendra Hegde Pilikudelu, Janardan Achary Punkedadi, Ramanna Poojaty Janatamane, Adam and Eshwar Naik, among others.

He had laid out rice mixed with Furadan insecticide, which is poisonous, in his areca nut plantation at Piligoodu in Kaniyoor village in the taluk, having no fencing. Allegedly, a pregnant cow owned by Rajenmdra Hegde, a local farmer, another owned by Janardan Achary Punkedadi, and cattle owned by Adam Kodiyelu, and cattle belonging to Eshwar Naik, lost their lives, inflicting losses to the tune of thousands of rupees on their owners. Two cows belonging Ramappa Poojary are fighting for survival. Other locals said that their 15 cattle heads had gone missing recently, and suspect that they too would have been poisoned.

Lifeless bodies of the cattle were found scattered at various places of this plantation. The locals intensified searches for their cattle, after finding the body of a dead cow near the said areca nut plantation.

Joachim does not reside in the farm house permanently. He stays in Bannur in Puttur, and visits the farm once in two days. Reportedly, on Tuesday evening, before returning to Puttur, he had mixed the said insecticide with rice, before placing the same at a number of visible spots in his plantation.

After the residents pressurized Uppinangady police personnel to take action immediately, Rodrigues was arrested at night. A number of political leaders visited the spot. Veterinary officer, Dr Sudhakar Shetty, conducted the post mortem. Uppinangady sub-inspector of police, Dasari, has taken up investigation. Along with the corpses of the cattle, packets of Furadan, and rice laced with poison, were found in the plantation.