Nizamabad: In an unusual incident a buffalo settled a row over its own theft in Jukkal mandal in Nizamabad district. Unable to settle the dispute among three persons who claimed ownership of the buffalo the police was forced to depend on the animal.
According to sources, a farmer, Anthergoan Maruthi, of Jukkal lost his pregnant buffalo five months ago. He did not know if the animal was stolen or if it had gone away from his house. He continued searching for it in nearby villages and in the weekly markets in Maharashtra and Karnataka as Jukkal is located on the state border.
Finally, Maruthi saw the buffalo at Devapur village in the Nanded district of Maharashtra. He, along with village elders, went there and brought back the animal. Meanwhile, one Gnaneshwer, who owned the buffalo in Maharashtra and Rathod Pandrang of Pedda Gulla thanda in Jukkal mandal also approached the Jukkal police stating that the animal is theirs and that they had purchased it from the weekly market.
All the three argued that the buffalo belongs to them. The police was in a dilemma as there were no documents for the sale and purchase of the animal.
Finally, Jukkal SI P. Raghavender came to the conclusion that the animal will be freed from the police station if it could identify its master. Surprisingly, the buffalo immediately went to its original master Maruthi’s house on Friday. After a gap of five months the buffalo and its calf identified its owner’s house.
The three persons, village elders and the police who followed the buffalo were surprised at its affection for its master. Police declared that the animal belongs to Maruthi. The incident created a sensation in Jukkal mandal as villagers were surprised at the ‘affection’ of the buffalo for its master.
Jukkal SI P. Raghavender said that cattle thefts are common in rural areas and farmers lodge complaints regarding this. “Each buffalo costs Rs 50,000,” he explained. He said that they adopted the ‘Tenali Ramalinga’ method to settle the issue as three persons claimed the animal.
Animal husbandry joint director Dr T. Yellanna said that animals can identify their master.
"If any animal is habituated to a particular area it would return there even after a long gap," he added. Animals, particularly buffalos have enough sense to understand circumstances, he said.
