Sringeri: Weeks after the anti-cow slaughter law was passed in Karnataka, the first arrest under the new law was made in Chikkamagaluru district’s Sringeri town.
The arrested accused has been identified as Abhidali, the driver of a Tata Eicher vehicle who was travelling from Davangere to Mangaluru via Sringeri, TNM reported.
An FIR was registered against the accused under new act after a police official found him transporting 12 to 15 cows on January 8. Reportedly, the police official saw Abhidali’s vehicle stopped on the road and went to check on him, after which he was told that four unidentified vigilantes in a Maruti car waylaid his vehicle and attacked him. The accused suffered a fractured arm as a result and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
TNM reports that Abhidali was accompanied by another truck carrying around 15 cows, but the driver and cleaner fled when they were stopped by the vigilantes. They are still absconding and have been charged under the new anti-cow slaughter law separately.
Another FIR was lodged against the four vigilantes for assaulting the drivers.
According to the new law, nearly all cattle like cow, calf of cow, bull, bullock cannot be slaughtered and only male or female buffalo over 13 years of age can be slaughtered. Penalty for any other slaughter will range from Rs 50,000 to Rs 10 lakh per animal and also attracts jail time of three to seven years.
