Udupi: Three policemen have been arrested in connection to death of cattle trader Hussainabba, 62, near Perdoor on May 30.
Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi said that DN Harish Kumar, sub-inspector, Hiriyadka and two other policemen have been nabbed.
SP Laxman Nimbargi said after finding the victim dead, the police along with other accused, who had tipped them off about illegal transport of cattle, kept the body in the police vehicle away from the place where the cattle transporting vehicle was waylaid. Later, the police registered a case of unnatural death on the morning of May 30, saying that Hussainabba must have died of cardiac arrest while fleeing the police the previous night.
Along with D. N. Kumar SI of Hiriyadka Police station, two other policemen- Gopal, driver and Head Constable Mohan Kothwal too have been arrested. The district police also arrested Umesh Shetty (28), a resident of Perdoor and Rathan (22), a resident of Hiriyadka on Sunday, Suresh Mendon alias Suri (42), a resident of Perdoor and Prasad H Kondady (30), a resident of Hiriyadka from Ballari on June 1, in connection to this case.
Hussainabba and others who were transporting cattle in a multi-utility vehicle were waylaid by Bajarang Dal activists at Shenabettu near Perdoor. After the accused thrashed the cattle traders, two of them fled leaving Hussainabba at the hands of the activists.
In his complaint, Hussainabba’s brother said that Hussainabba was murdered in front of the police sub-inspector and that he came to know about the incident from one of the cattle traders who fled the spot.
SP Laxman Nimbargi said that during the investigation it was found that the accused had stopped the cattle transportation vehicle along with the police on the intervening night of May 29 and May 30.
While the two fled, Hussainabba was caught by the accused, who also damaged the multi-utility vehicle. While Hussainabba was ushered into the police vehicle, one of the accused, Suri drove the multi-utility vehicle to the police station. The police realized that Hussainabba was dead on reaching the station and with the help of Prasad Kondadi and others, they shifted the body near the place where the traders were waylaid, the SP said.
More arrests were made on Sunday- Chetan Acharya (22), Shailash Shetty (20) and Ganesh (24), all residents of Perdoor. A total of 10 people have been arrested in the case and more will be arrested soon, the SP said.
