Cattle theft, vigilantism cause for tension in Dakshina Kannada districts

Mangaluru: Cattle theft and vigilantism are not new to Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts, where they have been a cause of communal tension for years.
Going by the police, most of those involved in the cattle vigilantism are members of saffron outfits.

“While those involved in the vigilantism are from various saffron outfits, most of the youth responsible for assaulting cattle transporters are jobless and uneducated and have no idea about Hindutva.

“Their only intention is to be seen as saviours of the community and this craving of theirs is misused by some outfits,” said a police officer, explaining that the network of these vigilantes was very strong.

“Acting on a tip-off , they track and attack the transporters, who have to pay a bribe at the checkposts and also these vigilante groups to carry on with their trade,” he added.

Claiming that the Sangh Parivar was backing the cattle activism in the coast, Dakshina Kannada district president of the Komu Sauhardha Vedike, Suresh Bhat, alleged, “Cow politics is one of the means used by the Parivar to reach its Hindutva goal. Strangely, only the transporters are attacked and not those involved in the beef business.”