Doomdooma: Police rescued 74 cattle and arrested three persons during a late-night operation at Doomdooma Bypass in Assam’s Tinsukia district, Co-District Superintendent of Police Diganta Dutta said on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference, Dutta said the operation was launched following complaints of cattle theft from the Kakopathar and Phillobari areas.
He said the preliminary investigation indicated the involvement of an organised network in the theft and illegal transportation of cattle.
Based on the inputs, Dutta, accompanied by the Superintendent of Police (Makum), the Officer-in-Charge of Doomdooma Police Station and a police team, set up a naka check at Raidang Bypass at around 11.30 pm on Wednesday.
During the operation, police intercepted two trucks carrying cattle and rescued 74 animals after the occupants allegedly failed to produce valid transportation documents.
The seized trucks bear registration numbers AS-23 DC-6368 and AS-01 SC-2586.
Three persons were arrested. They were identified as Faruk Khan and Sahil Babu, both residents of the Doomdooma 8 No. area, and Barsat Panikar, the driver of one of the trucks and a resident of Raidang Shantipur.
“Some suspects managed to escape under the cover of darkness. Search operations are underway. They too will face legal action,” Dutta said.
He said police are investigating the source and intended destination of the cattle and are trying to identify others allegedly linked to the network.
“The investigation is at a preliminary stage. We are probing the entire chain from cattle theft to transportation and operations against this nexus will continue in the coming days,” he added.
The rescued cattle were shifted to the Doomdooma Town Public Playground, where members of the Doomdooma Regional Students’ Union (AASU), with assistance from local residents, arranged drinking water and other immediate care for the animals.
The students’ union called for a thorough investigation to identify those allegedly involved, determine the source and destination of the cattle, and trace others linked to the case.
Police have registered a case, and further investigation is underway.