2 trucks, 23 cattle seized near Manali

Kullu, July 23

Two trucks carrying 23 cattle were seized by the Manali police yesterday.

Kullu SP Karthikeyan Gokulachandran said 23 cattle — 16 cows and seven bulls — were forcibly loaded and concealed under sacks of wood husk covered by tarpaulins in the trucks, and were found by Home Guard personnel on duty at a Bahang dharam kanta near Manali at 4 am.

“The driver of one of the trucks that was carrying 10 cows and three bulls identified himself as Barkat Ali of Ramban in Jammu and Kashmir. He was accompanied by one Mohammad Akhtar of Dansal,” he added.

The SP said the driver of other truck, carrying six cows and four bulls, fled from the spot. His accomplice identified himself as Mohammad Yasin of Panasa village of Reasi district. “The search for the absconding suspect is on. A case has been registered under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and Section 317(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and further investigations are underway.”