Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Aug 18: Police personnel from Ullal station succeeded in arresting the main accused relating to operation of an illegal slaughterhouse at Chembugudde, Ullal here and his involvement with cattle trafficking. The arrested person has been identified as M C Bava, who was arrested from Thokkottu here on Monday August 17.
The police personnel raided a spot at Chembugudde, Ullal, last Wednesday, after being tipped off by activists of some Hindu organizations on illegal cattle transportation and running of an unauthorized slaughterhouse there. During the raid, Bava, his brother, M C Khader, and Imtiaz from Millat Nagar, who were present at the spot, fled. A pick-up truck used for transporting cattle, 11 live cattle and two cattle carcasses were found at the spot and confiscated by the police during the raid.
It is said that the policemen showed reluctance in arresting Bava, although he moved about freely in Chembugudde area. Bava, in spite of being an accused, reportedly took part in a programme held on Saturday, in which a former union minister had participated. Reportedly, he tried his best to remain close to the minister and pose for photographs taken by media persons. As soon as photogtraphs of Bava in the company of former minister began spreading like wildfire through WhatsApp, the policemen sensed that they might be in for trouble, and arrested him on Monday.
Reportedly, M C Bava had converted his house into an illegal slaughterhouse since the last several years and most of the people in the area including the policemen were aware of it. Cattle stolen from Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and neighbouring districts many a time made their way into this slaughterhouse, it is learnt. It had become a practice for the police to raid this place only when they faced pressure from Hindu organizations and at other times, the slaughterhouse continued to function without any hitch. It is gathered that many raids including three during the last seven months have failed to deter the concerned from undertaking this activity.