(Representative image)

MADIKERI: Virajpet Rural police busted a major cattle smuggling and slaughter racket and nabbed seven members of a gang on Sunday . Police arrested Ubeidu of Channayyanakote, reportedly the leader of the gang, on Saturday. Using information obtained from Ubeidu through interrogation, police were able to arrest the remaining members.

The arrested individuals face charges of smuggling cattle from villages in south Kodagu and ferrying them to slaughterhouses in Kerala. In all, cops have arrested eight individuals. Among others, the gang allegedly raided Bittan gala, Ambatti, Nangala for cattle. Police said people from the villages had lodged several complaints of cattle going missing from their farms.

“Jersey cows, buffaloes, calves and bulls were stolen and smuggled to Kerala.We have found the culprits smuggled the cattle from Kodagu via Manandavadi to Kerala, where they were sent to abattoirs. Ubeidu, the main suspect, told us that they earned nearly Rs 45,000 a week selling these cattle,“ said police.

M Kareem of Ponnampet, Nijamuddin of Chamiyal, Sayyad of Kondangeri , TH Habid, Satish and KM Ashwath of Channayyanakote and Johnson of Pollibetta are the other members of the gang.“All of them were produced before the Virajpet judge, and we have seized two vehicles,“ police added.

