Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady
Beltangady, Nov 8: In a significant development, the assistant commissioner (AC) of Puttur, Stella Varghese, has ordered the release of a house belonging to Zohara, a resident of Patturu in Patrame village, which had been seized by the Dharmasthala police in connection with allegations of selling cattle to individuals transporting them to a slaughterhouse. The information was shared by Beltangady taluk CPM secretary and advocate B M Bhat.
Advocate B M Bhat had filed a petition before the Puttur AC court questioning the legality of the police action in seizing Zohara’s house merely for selling cattle. After examining the case, AC Stella Varghese directed that the seized house be released.
On November 4, Dharmasthala police had detected an illegal cattle transportation case and registered a complaint against those involved in the transport. Subsequently, they also registered a case against Zohara from Patturu for allegedly selling the cattle to them.
Continuing their investigation, the police alleged that a slaughterhouse was operating in the residence of the person who sold the cattle and consequently seized Zohara’s house.
On November 6, the police visited her residence and served a notice to her mother, Saramma, before sealing the house the same day without giving any opportunity for clarification. As a result, the family, including two school-going daughters and another child, was left without shelter.
Advocate B M Bhat later submitted a memorandum to the Beltangady tahsildar, alleging that the house had been seized unlawfully. He also submitted a petition to the Puttur assistant commissioner, following which AC Stella Varghese ordered the release of the house seized by the police.
Local residents stated that Zohara’s family is engaged in dairy farming and had sold one cow and two calves. They clarified that buying and selling cattle is common among milk producers and farmers, and sellers cannot be held responsible for how the buyers use the animals.
Advocate B M Bhat condemned the police’s action, calling it illegal to seize a house without due notice or opportunity for explanation, especially when the woman and her children were residing there. He emphasised that the FIR does not mention any evidence of slaughter occurring on Zohara’s property and argued that selling a cow cannot be considered a crime warranting property seizure.
He stated that if selling cattle were treated as such an offence, farmlands of all farmers would have to be confiscated. He criticized the police for issuing a notice and seizing the residence on the same day without allowing time for clarification, and noted that justice has now been served to the affected family through the Puttur assistant commissioner’s order.