Commissioner of Police (CP) Amitesh Kumar has taken strict action against police personnel who failed to curb cattle smuggling in their area. About 16 staffers of Unit V of Crime Branch have been attached to the headquarters for dereliction of duty while inquiry has started against the Senior Police Inspector of Yashodhara Nagar police station and DB squad members.

The action was taken after Unit III of Crime Branch conducted cross-jurisdiction raids in Unit V’s Yashodhara Nagar area and rescued 53 cattle from smugglers. The action taken by the CP is a strong message to the police personnel to take their duty seriously and curb illegal activities in their jurisdiction. In-charge of Unit V Police Inspector Kishore Parvate, two APIs, two PSIs and 13 personnel of the Unit V have been attached to headquarters on Sunday. Similarly, Sr PI Vishwanath Chavan of Yashodhara Nagar police station and staffers of DB squads are facing inquiries. These staffers of the police station will also be attached to the headquarters, claimed a senior police official.

During the raids, the Unit III officials registered three offences against the accused persons under Sections 5 (b), 9 of Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act and Section 11 (d) of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. In the first case, the offence was registered against Arif alias Baba Qureshi and Sonu Mushtaq Qureshi, both residents of Teka Nai Basti, Pachapaoli. The police rescued 24 cows worth Rs 3.52 lakh, a mini truck and other material was seized by the raiding party. In the second case, the police booked accused Najeem Sheikh Ahmed Kireshi, Sheikh Ahmed Sheikh Ibrahim Qureshi and Mohammad Feroze Mohammad Karim Ansari. The police have rescued 10 cows and seized an autorickshaw. In the third case, the offence was registered against Akram Vakil and Haider and 19 cows were rescued during the raid. Meat weighing 1,000 kg worth Rs 1.50 lakh was seized by the police along with a mini truck.