Udupi: In a major breakthrough, Udupi police arrested two habitual offenders with a long history of criminal activity in connection with a cow theft case reported from Hardalli Mandalli village.Acting on leads, a police team led by Brahmavar circle inspector Gopikrishna, and comprising sub-inspector Raghavendra C and team arrested Imran alias Kuttu and Irshad. Police also seized the vehicle used in the crime.Imran,31, hails from Pudu in Bantwal taluk and is involved in 35 cases including theft, cow slaughter, unlawful assembly, rioting, attempt to murder, and arms act violations across Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Hassan districts, and Mangaluru city. Irshad,30, hails from Ganjimutt and has 14 cases including theft, cow slaughter, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Arms Act, attempt to murder, and dacoity in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru districts, and Mangaluru city police limits.The complainant, Jayaprakash Shetty,48, a resident of Hardalli Mandalli village in Kundapur taluk, stated that he received a video on his mobile phone on Saturday, while attending a grama sabha meeting. Upon watching the video, it was revealed that at 3.50am the same day, three masked thieves arrived from the Hunsemakki side in a four-wheeler.Near the Bidkalakatte market area, they got down from the vehicle, caught hold of a cow that was lying there, tied it with a rope, and forcefully dragged it into their vehicle in a brutal manner before fleeing from the scene. A case was registered at Kota police station.
