Udupi: A sub-inspector, a police jeep driver and a head constable were arrested on Saturday in connection with the death of an alleged cattle trader Husainabba near Hiriyadka in Udupi district on May 30. Hiriyadka Sub-Inspector D.N. Kumar, jeep driver Gopal and Head Constable Mohan Kotwal were arrested after a probe team interrogated them.
Husainabba's brother Mohammed Ismail had complained to the police on Wednesday that his brother and two others, who were in an SUV, were waylaid by Soorya alias Suri and other Bajrang Dal activists at Senarabettu near Hiriyadka on May 30. Two others managed to escape, but Husainabba, who was 62 years old, could not run and was assaulted brutally.
Ismail stated that his brother died in the presence of SI Kumar, who was at the spot. The police investigation team, which is looking into the complaint, has learnt that a vigilante group had tipped off the police about illegal cattle transport. The team and the police were waiting near Senarabettu to catch cattle traders.
Around 4 am on May 30, they spotted the Scorpio SUV, being driven by Husainabba along with two others. Suspecting it to be involved in illegal cattle transportation, the vigilantes stopped the vehicle, assaulted Husainabba and handed him over to the police team which was present at the spot.
Ismail alleged that Husainabba died in a police vehicle. "But the accused, including Prasad Kondadi and others, colluded with the police and placed the body about 1 km away from the crime spot. The police proceeded to file an unnatural death report (UDR), stating that Husainabba suffered a heart attack and died in fear after being caught in the vehicle used for cattle transportation," Ismail stated in the complaint.
Suresh Mendon alias Soori and Umesh Shetty of Perdoor, Rathan and Prasad Kondadi of Hiriyadka, who were escaping in a Swift car, were caught in Ballari.
Three others - Chethan, Shailesh Shetty and Ganesh Naik of Perdoor village - were arrested earlier. In all, 10 people have been arrested in the case and the search is on for others.
