MANGALURU: Acting on a tip-off, Mangaluru City Police intercepted a lorry and seized 2,500kg beef that was being transported illegally on Sunday.
Police have nabbed two accused who were transporting the meat ostensibly from Hubballi to Mangaluru. Acting on information given by Hindu right-wing activists, personnel from Kankanady Town police station intercepted the lorry near Kannur-Padil and seized the vehicle.
Deputy commissioner of police (law and order) Arunangshu Giri said the carcass of slaughtered cows was hidden behind plastic trays containing fish. The lorry was coming to the city via Hassan when police intercepted it and affected the seizure, he said. This is the second such incident in the last week. On Tuesday, personnel of Mangaluru north PS too had intercepted a vehicle in which 1000kg beef was being illegally transported.
Sharan Kumar, divisional secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad said the new modus operandi used by those into illegal cattle slaughter and meat trade is a disturbing development. "This is precisely the reason why the VHP has urged the city police commissioner to set up a special squad," Sharan told TOI.
"We are passing information on any such illegal movement of meat into Dakshina Kannada district to the police for them to take action," he said.
Expressing concern over a trend where meat traders allegedly mix beef with mutton, he said VHP has also urged the police top brass to consider banning the inter-district movement of meat.
"According to an RTI reply that MCC has furnished, only 10 to 12 cattle are being slaughtered in the city’s only recognised abattoir at Kudroli. Yet there are more than 100 stalls selling beef in the city and the source of meat to the stalls should be probed," he said.