Hyderabad: Cyberabad Police solved a seven-month-old cattle theft case under Shamshabad Police Station limits and arrested the gang leader, Mohammed Aizaz Ali, who, along with his gang, is involved in 31 cattle theft cases having stolen 109 cattle heads.
Joint Commissioner of Police Shahnawaz Qasim said that Ali, an auto driver and a notorious offender, leads a gang of eight members. The gang is also facing trial in a murder case registered in 2003. The gang leader had 40 non-bailable warrants against him and was absconding.
Ali purchased two old Tata Winger vehicles that he modified by removing the seats behind the driver’s so that cattle could be transported. The vehicles have curtains on the windows to make them look like passenger vehicles.
“They would go to farms or cattle sheds on the outskirts and offer fodder to the cattle. When the animal comes, they would push it inside the vehicle and take it to the butchers’ shops in Old City for slaughtering,” Mr Qasim said, adding that the gang committed crimes in Cyberabad, Rachakonda and Hyderabad and in Siddipet district.
Ali and his associates started with stealing sheep and goats. He and four others are also involved in the murder of Mekala Mallaiah who they ran over with their vehicle in Shamshabad when he tried to stop them from stealing animals.
Ali has confessed to 31 cattle theft cases including 16 in Cyberabad, 11 in Rachakonda, three in Siddipet and one in Hyderabad. With his arrest, '9.4 lakh cash, two vehicles and old currency of Rs 8,500 were also seized from his possession. He was sent to remand. His associates Mohammed Ayub, Mohammed Baba, Rafiq, Chota Ayub, Saddam, Haji and Ishaq are at large.
