Mangaluru city police seize 2,500 kg beef in truck transporting fish

Mangaluru: City police intercepted a truck and seized 2,500 kg of beef that was being transported illegally in it on Sunday. Police also nabbed two persons who were transporting the meat ostensibly from Hubballi to the city. Acting on information given by Hindu right-wing activists, personnel from Kankanady Town police station intercepted the truck near Kannur-Padil and seized the vehicle.
Deputy commissioner of police (law and order) Arunangshu Giri said the carcasses of slaughtered cows were hidden behind plastic trays containing fish.The lorry was coming to the city via Hassan when police intercepted it, he added. This is the second such incident in the last week. On Tuesday, personnel of Mangaluru north PS too had intercepted a vehicle in which 1,000 kg of beef was being transported illegally.
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 inter-district movement of meat. “According to an RTI reply that MCC has furnished, only 10 to 12 cattle are being slaughtered at 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 these illegal stalls should be probed,” he added.