Two arrested in cattle slaughter, dumping bones in forest area case in Bhatkal

Bhatkal: Police in Bhatkal have arrested two youths in connection with the illegal slaughter of cattle and the dumping of remains in a forest area. The arrests came after forest officials lodged a complaint regarding the discovery of animal remains in government land.

According to the complaint filed on September 11, 2025, by Maruti Soragavi, Assistant Sub-Divisional Forest Officer of Bhatkal, unidentified persons had allegedly trespassed into survey number 74 of Muggum Colony forest area around 2 pm. The accused reportedly slaughtered cattle elsewhere and dumped the leftover hide, bones, and other remains in the forest land belonging to the Department of Forests.

Following the complaint, Bhatkal Town Police registered a case under provisions of The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020 and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Investigation teams were immediately formed to trace the culprits.

After sustained efforts, police arrested the two accused on September 17, 2025. They have been identified as Mohammed Saman (19), son of B.K. Abu Mohammed, resident of Safa Street, Magdoom Colony, Bhatkal, employed in a garment shop and Mohammed Raheen (20), son of Mohammed Rizwan, resident of Chouthani Main Road, Bhatkal, engaged in garment business.

Police also seized the vehicle used in the crime. Both accused were produced before court, which has remanded them to judicial custody.

The operation was carried out under the directions of Uttara Kannada Superintendent of Police Deepan M.N., Additional SP-1 Krishnamurthy G., and Additional SP-2 Jagadish Naik. The investigation team worked under the guidance of DSP Mahesh M.K. and Bhatkal Town Police Inspector Divakar P.M., assisted by PSIs Naveen Naik (Crime & Special Unit) and Thimmappa S.

Several police staff members, including CHCs Dinesh Naik, Devu Naik, Deepak Naik, Vinayak Patil, CPCs Kashinath Kotagonsi, Suresh Marati, Kiran Patil, and Revansiddappa Magi, along with technical staff Uday Gunaga and Baban Kadam, played a key role in tracing the accused.