Tension in Ainapur after lorry carrying suspected cow meat set ablaze, seven arrested
Belagavi: Tension gripped Ainapur town in Kagwad taluk late Monday night after local residents allegedly set fire to a lorry suspected of transporting three tonnes of cow meat. Police have arrested seven people, including those involved in transporting the meat and those accused of torching the vehicle.
According to officials, the lorry was carrying meat from Kudachi in Raibag taluk to Hyderabad. The load, concealed under slabs of ice, was intercepted in Ainapur by a group reportedly linked to Hindu organisations, who set the truck ablaze. By the time police arrived, the vehicle was reduced to ashes. The driver and cleaner were also assaulted and sustained injuries.
District Superintendent of Police (SP) Bheemashankar Guled confirmed the arrests. The alleged transporters, Vikas Ware and Sudhir Gasti of Sangli district (Maharashtra) and Saheblal Muthawale of Kudachi, were booked under the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. A fourth suspect was detained in Kalaburagi and is being brought back, as reported by Deccan Herald.
Those accused of torching the lorry, Avesh Jiragale, Suhas Londe, Anil Savali, and Sadashiv Kurandavade of Ainapur were arrested after being identified in videos of the incident. An additional case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, was registered, as the lorry driver reportedly belongs to the Dalit community.
SP Guled added that meat samples had been sent to a laboratory for confirmation. “The suspects had been purchasing the meat for about a week now,” he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
IPL 2026 to be held between March 26-May 31 window
Mumbai (PTI): The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League will be held between the March 26 to May 31 window but it remains to be seen if Bengaluru, the home of RCB, holds the opening match.
As per the norms, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium should host the tournament opener given the home side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the IPL 2025 title.
While the venue has received conditional clearance from the Karnataka state government, it also needs to meet the necessary safety and security standards following the death of 11 fans in a stampede during RCB's victory celebrations in June this year.
The mini-auction for IPL 2026 will be held in Abu Dhabi today with three-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders coming in with the biggest purse.
