Hunsur: Seven held for extorting money in name of cow protection; Two cars seized
Hunsur: In a shocking case of extortion under the guise of cow protection, Hunsur Rural Police have arrested seven individuals, including a woman, for allegedly stopping vehicles transporting cattle and demanding money. The incident took place near Kattemalalavadi village in Hunsur taluk.
Those arrested include Ramakrishna, who claims to be the national president of the Hindurashtra Rakshana Vedike and a resident of Uttarahalli in Bengaluru, along with Shivakumar, Lingaraju, Kishore, Premkumar, Pushpalatha (the only woman in the group), and Swami from Maragoudanahalli in KR Pete taluk. Police have also seized two cars used in the crime.
According to the complaint filed by Kiran, a cattle trader from Ratnapuri, the incident occurred on Wednesday when he was transporting three cattle purchased from the Chunchanakatte fair in Saligrama taluk. Near Kattemalalavadi, the accused allegedly followed his vehicle in cars, stopped him midway, and accused him of transporting cattle to a slaughterhouse. Despite Kiran’s explanation that the animals were for agricultural purposes, they reportedly demanded ₹25,000, threatening to inform the police. Eventually, they said they would let him go if he paid ₹20,000, according to the complaint.
As the situation escalated, passersby gathered at the spot and confronted the accused. They later called the police emergency number 112. The Hunsur Rural Police rushed to the scene, took the accused into custody, and during questioning, the truth came to light.
Based on Kiran's complaint, a case has been registered.
Further investigation revealed that the same gang had earlier extorted ₹20,000 from a gas agency owner in KR Nagar, and similar cases were reported two years ago in Chamarajanagar and recently in Bengaluru. Fresh cases have now been registered in Hunsur and KR Nagar police stations.
Police added that the group had used their car with Hindurashtra Rakshana Vedike name boards and JK 24/7 Kannada News Channel stickers to pose as activists and media personnel, misleading people and carrying out systematic extortion.
Additional SP Malik visited the location and led the inquiry, accompanied by DySP Gopalakrishna and Inspector Muniyappa.
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Worker’s body reaches Ranchi from Saudi 4 months after death; family rejects over compensation
Ranchi (PTI): The body of a migrant worker from Jharkhand’s Giridih district killed in Saudi Arabia in October last year has arrived at Ranchi Airport, but his family refused to accept it over pending compensation, officials said.
Shikha Lakra, team leader of the state migrant control cell, told PTI that, before taking the body of Vijay Kumar Mahato, the family is demanding compensation from the private company where he used to work in the Arab country.
Mahato was killed in an alleged crossfire between the police and criminals.
“Since it was a bullet injury case, the matter is before a court in Jeddah. The final compensation may depend on the court’s decision,” Lakra said.
“The Indian Embassy informed us about the body’s arrival, and coordination was done with district authorities. Our role is limited to coordination in cases involving overseas employers and foreign jurisdiction,” she added.
Giridih Deputy Commissioner Ram Niwas Yadav said the authorities will try to convince the family to perform the last rites.
“We have already sanctioned Rs 5 lakh under the government scheme for migrant’s deaths abroad. The compensation payment might take some time,” he said.
The body is currently at the mortuary of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi.
The Family members said they will only accept it if the company provides written assurance regarding compensation. “Without that assurance, we will not receive the body,” said Ram Prasad Mahato, the deceased’s brother-in-law.
Mahato, a native of Dudhpaniya village in Madh Gopali panchayat under Dumri block, was employed as a tower line fitter. His family said he was struck by a bullet during a gunfight between local police and an extortion gang and later succumbed to his injuries.
Social activist Sikander Ali said Mahato is survived by his wife, two young sons aged five and three, and elderly parents.
