SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police foiled three separate alleged bovine smuggling attempts in Kathua district, rescuing 49 cattle and seizing three trucks suspected to have been used for transporting them, officials said on Thursday.
The three incidents were reported at Lakhanpur, Hatli Morh and Sawan Chak, with all the vehicles allegedly travelling from Punjab. The drivers fled after the trucks were intercepted, officials said.
In the latest incident at Lakhanpur, police intercepted a truck at a naka and found 17 cattle allegedly being transported in an inhumane manner. The animals were rescued and the vehicle seized after the driver escaped.
Police Station Lakhanpur registered a case under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, officials said.
In the other two cases, police intercepted trucks at Hatli Morh and Sawan Chak on Wednesday. At Hatli Morh, the driver stopped the vehicle a few metres before the naka and fled. Police found 17 cattle inside and seized the truck.
At Sawan Chak, another driver similarly abandoned the truck after stopping short of the naka. Police rescued 15 cattle from the vehicle and seized it.
Cases have been registered at Police Station Kathua in the latter two incidents, officials said.
Further investigation into all three cases is underway.
A useful addition for publication would be the police’s clarification on whether the rescued cattle were handed over to designated shelters or authorities.
