40-km chase ends in cattle theft gang’s arrest
Yadgir: Yadgir police have arrested six members of an alleged inter-state cattle theft gang that had been troubling farmers across the district for the past two years. The accused were reportedly involved in stealing cattle from villages and transporting them to slaughterhouses for sale.
According to police, the gang targeted cattle tied outside houses and in sheds. The accused allegedly administered sedative injections to the animals before loading them into a black Scorpio vehicle and fleeing the spot.
More than 10 cases had been registered at various police stations, including Wadgera, in connection with cattle thefts.
The gang, which had been temporarily staying in Kalaburagi, allegedly carried out another cattle theft and attempted to escape in the Scorpio. Acting on specific information, teams from Wadgera and Yadgir Rural police stations launched a joint operation and began chasing the vehicle.
The accused allegedly refused to stop despite repeated attempts by the police and continued driving at high speed on the highway. Anticipating their escape, police took a strategic step near Yeragol in Yadgir taluk.
They placed a JCB and a tractor across the road to block the fleeing vehicle.
The Scorpio, travelling at high speed, crashed into the JCB. The impact severely damaged the vehicle, while the accused sustained minor injuries. Police immediately surrounded the vehicle and took all six suspects into custody. The arrested accused have been identified as Samoon, Anib, Irshad, Nafees and Azeem, all from Haryana, and Nitin from Rajasthan.
Police are investigating the gang’s alleged links with cattle traders and slaughterhouses in neighbouring states. They are also verifying the accused’s involvement in other cattle theft cases reported in Yadgir and surrounding districts.
The operation has been welcomed by local residents and farmers, who had reportedly been living under fear due to repeated cattle thefts.
Police said further investigation is underway to identify other members of the network and establish the full extent of the gang’s activities.