Daijiworld Media Network-Madikeri (RJP)

Madikeri, May 14: A vehicle was set on fire by cow vigilantes after the police intercepted a cattle trafficking team and arrested some of the accused.

The incident took place at Kodlipet near Somwarpet on Saturday, May 13.

Police arrested two people from Mangaluru, identified as Sharif and Mansoor. Five other cattle thieves who were also from Mangaluru escaped.

As per details, a group of 7 cattle thieves had stolen eight cows from different houses in Kodagu and were transporting them to Mangaluru.

After obtaining information on the same, Kushalnagar police asked Kodlipet police to stop the Tempo Traveller vehicle which carried the cows. An escort pickup was also following the Tempo Traveller. Both the vehicles did not stop when police demanded. The two vehicles hit a motorcycle on the way, damaged it badly and fled towards Sakleshpur.

But the police team which took it as a challenge chased the thieves and managed to intercept the vehicle at Aanemahal in Sakleshpur.

During the chase, the accompanying pickup van had given the police a harrowing time by trying to block the police party from getting near the Tempo Traveller.

Five among the cow thieves escaped after a scuffle with the police. The pickup truck was also stopped and the police took both vehicles into their custody and parked them near the Kodlipet police station.

Later, the Tempo Traveler parked in front of the Kodlipet police station was torched by an unidentified group of people believed to be cow vigilantes. The vehicle was fully charred. Police could not do much as there was a shortage of staff. They had to control the crowd and wait for brigade to come and extinguish the fire.

Kodagu superintendent of police Rajendra Prasad said efforts were on to nab the suspects who fled.

Police in Hassan and Mangaluru have been notified about those who escaped.

The driver of the pickup van who tried to obstruct the police during the chase is also absconding.

Following investigations, the police have taken two persons named Kumar and Dharmaraj into custody for torching the Tempo Traveller.

It is claimed that the cow thieves stole Kumar’s cattle and enraged over this, the accused torched the vehicle. But police said they are investigating the matter and truth will be known soon.