Car-borne cattle stealing gangs active in city

 

 

 

For the past few months, cattle theft is on the rise especially in areas where local families still rear cows and act as milkmen. However, the thieves, according to persons whose cattle have been stolen, are adopting newer methods. The thieves are using old cars with rear seats removed, operating after midnight, pushing cattle into cars, and fleeing to sell off the cattle to slaughter houses. For instance, in Jaitala and nearby areas, several cows and calves have been stolen by the thieves who come in cars around 1 pm. Rahul Gudadhe is an affected milkman and farmer. His four cows have been stolen including two in the last year, one on November 19, another on November 22, and one more a couple of days ago.

 

“We have sourced CCTV camera footage from a nearby lawn, after the incidents increased of late. It reveals that the thieves come in four-wheelers like Bolero, Scorpio, Tata Ace etc,” he told ‘The Hitavada’. According to Dheeraj Raut, another milkman who has lost four cows so far, said that the thieves came between 1 am and 4 am were in deep sleep after the day’s hard work. As one CCTV camera footage showed, the thieves were aware of the camera. Hence, while two-three of them got down from the vehicle they came in, the driver blinked headlights in the direction of camera so that the visuals were not clear. “They usually use old cars, and number plate is covered with sticker,” he pointed out. Those who got down from the vehicle pushed a cow sitting idle at night, into the vehicle and the thieves sped away.

 

He suspected if the cow thieves used some kind of injection to calm down the cattle, before pushing them into vehicle. “The CCTV camera footage showed the thieves comfortably taking away even the most difficult-to-control cattle,” he said. Another milkman Ajay Marwade said that he and other milkmen and farmers from the nearby areas stayed awake for night patrolling for a few days after the incidents. However, he added, the thieves did not come during that period. “Probably, someone in the nearby areas informed them about night vigil. We suspect if someone first conducts surveillance of the area around 9 pm or 9.30 pm to locate cows sitting idle, and if local residents are maintaining a vigil. But, we cannot keep night vigil and work in daytime for a long time,” he said. As soon as they stopped vigil, a couple of days ago, some more cows disappeared. Marwade was sad and angry as four of his cows, and two of his brother, were stolen in the past few days. According to him, each cow giving good quantity of milk costed Rs 70,000/-. “We borrow money from traders.

 

However, when cows are stolen so frequently, I am not sure if people like me can afford to continue with the traditional milk business,” he said. In one instance, he added, he lost a cow within three days of purchasing it. Of course, he will have to repay the amount to the trader from whom he borrowed money to buy the cow despite the cow getting stolen. There is strong resentment among the residents of the area following these incidents. Often, when they go to police station to lodge complaint, the first reaction of cops is, “Oh, the cow or calf must have strayed nearby as you did not tie them in shed.” Now, the milkmen are in a mood to start night vigil again to nab the thieves by themselves. One more milkman from the area said that the thieves usually sold the cattle to slaughter houses. For the milkmen, he added, people stealing the cows were inflicting not only financial cost but also emotional toll. “We take care of the cattle as our family members, feed them. But, the thieves sell them off to slaughter house. Even the calves with tender skin are not spared. These thieves are brutal monsters,” said Rahul Gudadhe. Meanwhile, on December 4 night, five more cows were stolen by the gang operating in the area. This has further irked the local residents. 

 

 

NAGPUR (Rural) Police nabbed four cattle smugglers and rescued 50 cows and bullocks being illegally transported by them in trucks to slaughter houses on Sunday. Cops seized two trucks worth Rs 11 lakh from them. The accused have been identified as Sheikh Mohsin Mobin Qureshi (24), a resident of Teka Naka, Mohammad Rafique Khan Abdul Rasheed Khan alias Saddam Sheikh (30), one Firoz, both residents of Kamptee, and Umesh Chetram Devda (32), a resident of Yashodhara Nagar. Acting on a tip off, Bori Police intercepted a truck (MH-40/CB-2202) on Borkhedi Road.

 

During the vehicle check, cops found 24 bullocks tightly tied up. One of the bullocks was found to be dead. Cops took Sheikh Mohsin, Mohammad Rafique and Firoz into custody. Similarly, a team of Mouda Police arrested Umesh Devda, driver of Eicher truck (CG-07/BL-7606) and rescued 26 bovines from his vehicle. Cops seized the truck immediately. Separate cases were registered against the accused persons under relevant sections of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act and Motor Vehicle Act at Bori and Mouda Police Stations. The arrests were made by Senior PI (Bori) Omprakash Kokate, WPSI Aarti Ughade, Senior PI (Mouda) Hemant Kumar Kharabe and others under the supervision of SP (Nagpur Rural) Vijaykumar Magar and Additional SP Rahul Maknikar.